Hundred Acre Wine: Vineyards, Wine Styles, 10 Best Bottles (2024)

Founded by vintner Jayson Woodbridge, the Hundred Acre winery is one of the most inspiring success stories of Napa Valley. 

The limited production Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon wines are a benchmark for luscious, structured, and fine reds. 

Let’s take a virtual tour of this exceptional Napa Valley wine estate and explore its fascinating history, magnificent vineyards, brilliant winemaking techniques, and the best Hundred Acre winesthat deserve a place in your collection.

Also, discover an easy way to invest in fine wines like Hundred Acre.

A Quick Look At The Hundred Acre Winery

Hundred Acre is a leading Napa Valley winery (California) - just 30 miles away from San Francisco Bay. It is known for its fine single estate vineyard wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon.

The best wines of the winery come from three vineyards - Kayli Morgan, Eisele Vineyard, and the 15 acre Ark Vineyard. 

It also produces a Shiraz wine in the Barossa Valley, a fortified dessert wine, a barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc, and many more. 

The winery was founded by Jayson Woodbridge, a successful investment banker by profession. 

Fun Fact: The name of the winery is taken from the “Hundred Acre Wood,” the home of Winnie the Pooh and his friends! 

Here’s how it all began.

A Brief History Of Hundred Acre Wine

Jayson Woodbridge, and his wife, Mawson, entered the Napa wine industry in 1998 when he decided to move out of investment banking and produce Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Mawson Woodbridge worked with three major Napa wine producers - Joseph Phelps, Miner Family, and Vineyard 29 for two more years. She joined the Hundred Acre team in 2000 when Jayson bought his first vineyard - Kayli Morgan.

Jayson, with his magical qualities and the help of Philippe Melka (a Bordeaux winemaker), kicked into high gear and produced one of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons in the region.

Robert Parker, a top wine critic, described Jayson as “One of California’s (perhaps the world’s) most flamboyant, talented, contrarian wine producers.”

In only 20 years, the self-taught vintner has produced many exceptional wines, 22 of which have scored a perfect 100 from Robert Parker. He believes in trial-and-error methods and believes that the vintage should be either the best or none at all.

The Magnificent Hundred Acre Vineyards

Woodbridge owns three main vineyards - the Kayli Morgan vineyard, the Ark Vineyard, and the historic Eisele Vineyard. The three Hundred Acre single-vineyard wines are produced from the fruit of these plots.

Kayli Morgan was the first vineyard that Jayson Woodbridge bought. He replanted this 3.6 hectare Sauvignon Blanc vineyard with the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety.

The Kayli Morgan vineyard is located in St. Helena in a former river bed, making the vineyard soils highly fertile to the vine plantings. 

On the other hand, the 15 acre Ark Vineyard is located in Glass Mountain, an unofficial sub-AVA of Howell Mountain in St Helena.

The Ark Vineyard receives 180-degree sunlight, ensuring that each vine gets its fair share. The vineyard is further divided into nine different plots - each having varying quantities of volcanic ash and red clay soils.

Here are Woodbridge’s harvesting decisions that help him produce brilliant wines.

• The Napa Valley vineyard is set up with electronic micro-misters that air condition the entire vineyard and maintain an ideal temperature for the slow ripening of the grapes. The cost of this setup is quite high, but the results are quite spectacular!
• Each vine is pruned until only one cluster of grapes remains. 
• The harvest is done manually by an experienced team that sorts each bunch and selects only the best grapes for winemaking.

Let’s see how these delicious wines come into being.

How Are Hundred Acre Wines Made?

The standard winemaking practices followed by Napa Valley’s Jayson Woodbridge and Philippe Melka are:

• The hand-picked berries from the vineyard reach the winery, and the best ones are selected for winemaking. 
• The winemaker ferments the grapes from different plots separately in 500-liter puncheons or small French oak fermenters. Fermenting the wine in small French oak fermenters protects the berries from extensive heat. 
• The wines are aged in new French oak barrels (the finest barriques) for at least 24 months. Some special cuvees (like Deep Time) are aged for 36-42 months.

These winemaking techniques help Woodbridge produce exotic wines year after year. 

Let’s take a quick look at the different wine styles.

The Brilliant Hundred Acre Wine Styles 

From exceptional single estate vineyard wines to delicious blends, Hundred Acre produces a range of different wines.

• Kayli Morgan: This single-vineyard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon wine produced from the fruit of Kayli Morgan vineyard is highly aromatic and has a velvety texture. 
• Ark Vineyard: This single-vineyard wine is angular, dense, and a classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Few And Far Between: It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes produced from the fruit of the Eisele Vineyard. 
• Deep Time Cabernet Sauvignon: This wine is only available for the mailing list members. It is known for its minerality and lasting finish.
• Wraith: Wraith is a beautiful blend of the three fine single-vineyard wines - Kayli Morgan, Ark Vineyard, and Few & Far Between. 
• Precious: Precious is a Cabernet Sauvignon varietal wine that showcases the typical flavors of a Cali Cab.
• Fortification: It is a fortified dessert wine made from a blend of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties.
• Deep Time Shiraz: It is a classic Australian Shiraz wine produced in Barossa Valley.
• Fortunate Son: This is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine produced from the fruit of Howell Mountain and Calistoga vineyards.
• Summer Dreams: It is a barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc varietal wine known for its crisp and refreshing flavors.
• Gold Chardonnay: It is a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier wine admired for its fruity and vanilla wines.

In addition, Woodbridge has three wine collections: 

• Layer Cake: It is a collection of affordable wines from California, Spain, Italy, Australia, and Argentina.
• Cherry Pie: Cherry Pie is a range of Pinot Noir wines from Napa and Sonoma Valley
• Cherry Tart: It is a collection of Californian Chardonnay wines.

Looking for the perfect dish to have with your Hundred Acre wine?

Hundred Acre wine goes best with hearty meat dishes like beef, lamb, game (mostly deer and venison.)

The robust Cabernet Sauvignon wines also taste delicious with hard cheese and barbeque dishes. 

10 Best Hundred Acre Wine Bottles (Including Tasting Notes And Prices)

Here are some of the best Hundred Acre wines that deserve a place in your wine cellar.

1. 2017 Hundred Acre 'Wraith' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA 

Aged in the finest barriques, this Cabernet Sauvignon red wine from California gives off an intense fruit berry aroma with subtle tobacco gravel scents. The palate reflects silky tannins and an elegant finish. 

Price of 2017 Hundred Acre 'Wraith' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA: $880

2. 2001 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA 

The 2001 Kayli Morgan vintage gives off plums, kirsch, black currant, licorice, incense, and oak aromas. The palate has chewy tannin with a seductive finish.

Price of 2001 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA: $675

3. 2002 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA

This cult wine from the exceptional Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard, is a deep purple wine with a seductive nose of black cherry liqueur, cassis, graphite, and smoke. The plate has lush tannins and a long finish.

Price of 2002 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA: $787

4. 2006 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA

This dark and luscious Napa Cabernet Sauvignon wine gives off black cherry, black raspberry, and cassis aromas. Plush tannins and ripe fruit flavors dominate the palate.

Price of 2006 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA: $742

5. 2008 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Ark Napa, Howell Mountain, USA

The 2008 Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard vintage has fruity aromas of black cherry, berry, and plum with subtle mocha, espresso, and spice aromas. The concentrated palate has supple tannins. 

Price of 2008 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Ark Napa, Howell Mountain, USA: $707

6. 2009 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Deep Time, Napa Valley, USA

It is a full-bodied Napa Cabernet Sauvignon cult wine with elegant finesse and fine tannins. On the nose, you’ll notice cassis, mulberry, and berry fruit aromas. 

Price of 2009 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Deep Time, Napa Valley, USA: $1,262

7. 2010 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Precious Napa, Napa Valley, USA

This 2010 Hundred Acre vintage has a layered nose with fruit berry, licorice, spring flowers, charcoal, and graphite aromas. The palate is full of velvety tannins with a fruit finish.

Price of 2010 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Precious Napa, Napa Valley, USA: $635

8. 2013 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Ark Vineyard’ Howell Mountain, USA

This Ark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon vintage gives off crème de cassis, blueberry compote, candied violets, red roses, chocolate mint, and stewed tea aromas.

Price of 2013 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Ark Vineyard’ Howell Mountain, USA: $564

9. 2010 Hundred Acre 'Deep Time' Ancient Way Vineyard Summer's Block Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia

This Shiraz wine has a deep garnet color with smoked meats, tapenade, and cracked black pepper aromas. The palate has smokey nuances - a great wine to pair with barbeque dishes.

Price of 2010 Hundred Acre 'Deep Time' Ancient Way Vineyard Summer's Block Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia: $724

10. 2011 Hundred Acre ‘Few and Far Between’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA

This magnificently aromatic wine is produced from the fruit of the small parcel near the Eisele Vineyard. The 2011 Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon has subtle Cabernet Franc aromas of forest floor, black raspberry, plums, black currant, and wet rock. 

Price of 2011 Hundred Acre ‘Few and Far Between’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA: $769

Should You Invest In Hundred Acre Wines?

Foremost among the magical qualities of Hundred Acre wines is their aging potential. The finest Cabernet Sauvignon vintages of Hundred Acre wine can age for 30-50 years. 

Almost every wine critic describes Woodbridge’s wines as the finest examples of Napa Cabernet. So, no wonder the Hundred Acre winery took off in high gear immediately after the release of its first Napa Valley wine.

Besides, its limited quantity also makes it one of the most expensive wines of California. Wine enthusiasts have to wait for years just to enter the winery’s waiting list.

These wines by Napa Valley’s Jayson Woodbridge also have a steady price appreciation. The 2011 vintage of Hundred Acre 'Few and Far Between' grew by 104%, from $373 to $762 in 2020-’21.

A lot of 6 bottles of the 2007 Kayli Morgan wine was sold for $2,408 at Sotheby’s wine auction in April 2020.

So, if you want a great wine to add to your wine collection as a long-term investment, then Hundred Acre is a great place to start. 

The problem is that this is not a wine you’ll find on special promotions or in your neighborhood wine store.

Many of these wines, including the Deep Time wines are virtually unavailable in the market and you’d be lucky if you get to taste them ever!

But, the good news is that you won’t have to wait for years to get your hands on these cult wines. 

All you need to do is invest in wine through a trusted wine investment company like Vinovest.

Invest In Hundred Acre And Other Fine Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovest is a world-class wine investment firm that helps wine lovers invest in fine collectible wines from around the world - be it from California or Bordeaux.

Vinovest will help you buy authentic wines from across the globe, store them in temperature-controlled warehouses, and sell them at the right time to the right buyer. 

How Does It Work?

You start your very own fine wine collection with these four easy steps.

• Sign up on Vinovest
• Fill a small questionnaire to share your risk appetite and investment preferences with Vinovest’s wine experts.
• Fund your account with a minimum of $1,000.
• Add a bottle of fine Bordeaux wine and more to your online wine portfolio.

Benefits

Investing with Vinovest comes with the following benefits.

1. AI-Driven Platform

Vinovest’s AI-driven platform makes buying and selling rare wines super-easy. With only a few clicks, you can buy or sell a Barolo or any other extraordinary bottle.

2. Best Prices 

Every wine you buy through Vinovest is sourced directly from global wineries, wine auctions, and wine exchanges, ensuring that you pay the best price.

3. Optimal Storage Facilities 

Vinovest stores your wine in bonded warehouses that maintain optimal temperature, the right light, humidity, and vibration levels. 

4. Expert Team Of Wine Sommeliers 

A team of Master Sommeliers and an Advanced Sommelier continuously monitors your portfolio and ensures that you don’t miss out on any masterpiece. 

5. Access To A Deep Wine Network  

Investing with Vinovest gives you access to a deep network of rare wineries, brilliant winemakers, and exceptional vineyards (even in lesser-known wine regions.)

6. Easy Delivery

Want to open your bottle for a special occasion? Or found the right buyer for it?

Vinovest will get your bottle delivered to your or your buyer’s doorstep hassle-free.

7. Full-Coverage Insurance 

Every bottle you buy through Vinovest comes with a comprehensive insurance policy that covers theft, breakage, and loss. 

8. Low overall prices

Vinovest charges a minimal fee of 2.5% (1.9% for a portfolio of $50,000 and more) that covers buying, selling, bottle authentication, storage, and a full-coverage insurance policy. 

Also, since Vinovest stores your wine in bonded warehouses that do not charge any excise duty or VAT, you get tax benefits!

Own A Napa Valley Masterpiece!

The exceptional Hundred Acre wine is a brilliant masterpiece that deserves a place in every wine collector’s cellar. 

While, it’s not easy to come by these limited-production wines, you can easily add them to your portfolio through a wine investment company like Vinovest

So, sign up on the website and add this fine wine to your collection right away.