Colgin Cellars

Colgin Cellars is a boutique Napa Valley winery established by Ann Colgin in 1992. The estate is associated with highly limited, collector-oriented wines made from distinctive hillside sites in and around the Napa Valley, with an emphasis on perfume, freshness, minerality, balance, and precision rather than sheer power. Its first vintage was released in 1995. The winery’s identity developed through a succession of important vineyard projects. In its early years, Colgin sourced fruit from the Herb Lamb Vineyard on the foothills of Howell Mountain, producing the Herb Lamb wine from the 1992 through 2007 vintages. The wine became associated with aromatic intensity, blue-fruited character, mint, and an approachable sense of charm. In 1996, Colgin acquired a historic vineyard site north of Saint Helena with roots reaching back to the nineteenth century. The property was connected with Josephine Tychson, who built a winery in Napa Valley during the 1880s and is regarded as the first woman to do so in the region. Replanted with heritage Cabernet Sauvignon clones and named Tychson Hill, the site consists of approximately six acres of vines. Colgin’s first Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon came from the 2000 vintage and is noted for floral, red-fruited, and ethereal qualities. Colgin also produces Cariad, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend sourced from western Saint Helena hillsides. First made from the 1999 vintage, Cariad takes its name from a Welsh word for love and is characterized by structure, richness, violet and dark-fruit notes, and gravelly mineral tones. In 1998, the winery purchased a 125-acre property on Pritchard Hill overlooking Lake Hennessey. The property was named IX Estate, pronounced “number nine estate,” and became the setting for a 20-acre vineyard and a winery designed to house Colgin’s production. The first IX Estate Red and IX Estate Syrah wines were produced in 2002. Colgin’s portfolio and scarcity have helped it become a prominent example of a Napa Valley cult winery. Its wines have received numerous perfect scores from The Wine Advocate, and the label has been profiled by major wine and business publications. The winery’s reputation is built on the combination of prestigious hillside terroirs, small volumes, meticulous farming, and a consistent house style centered on elegance and site expression. In 2017, Colgin Cellars entered a strategic partnership with LVMH and became the only American label in the group’s Vins d’Exception collection, alongside distinguished European estates including Château Cheval Blanc, Château d’Yquem, and Domaine du Clos des Lambrays. Colgin remains associated with Ann Colgin, her husband Joe Wender, and Director of Winemaking Allison Tauziet. The estate also has a public profile through its relationships with collectors, cultural institutions, philanthropic activities, and prominent visitors. Its principal business is the production and sale of premium, limited-release Napa Valley wines.

Colgin Cellars was founded in Napa Valley in 1992 by Ann Colgin, whose earlier career included work in the art auction world and wine-related responsibilities at Sotheby’s on the West Coast. From the beginning, the winery pursued a hillside-focused model, emphasizing vineyards with distinctive geology, elevation, exposure, and cooling airflow. Rather than building its identity around a broad commercial range, Colgin concentrated on very small quantities of site-specific wines intended to express the character of exceptional Napa Valley locations. The winery’s first production was based in fruit from the Herb Lamb Vineyard in the foothills of Howell Mountain. Colgin made the Herb Lamb wine from the 1992 through 2007 vintages. The bottling became associated with aromatic perfume, blue fruit, mint, and an elegant, charming profile. The first Colgin vintage was released in 1995, establishing the label among Napa’s emerging boutique producers. A major development came in 1996, when Colgin purchased a historic vineyard property north of Saint Helena. The site had nineteenth-century roots and was associated with Josephine Tychson, a pioneering Napa vintner who built a winery in the 1880s and is regarded as the first woman to do so in the Napa Valley. Colgin replanted the property with heritage Cabernet Sauvignon clones and named it Tychson Hill. The vineyard currently covers about six acres. The first Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from the 2000 vintage, and the wine became known for an ethereal texture, floral character, and red-fruit expression. Colgin expanded its portfolio with Cariad, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend sourced from the western hillsides of Saint Helena. Produced from the 1999 vintage onward, Cariad takes its name from a Welsh term meaning love. The wine’s profile combines opulence and structure with violet, dark-fruit, and mineral notes, giving Colgin a blend that complements the more site-specific Cabernet bottlings. In 1998, the winery acquired a 125-acre parcel on Pritchard Hill overlooking Lake Hennessey. Colgin named the property IX Estate, pronounced “number nine estate.” Development included approximately 20 acres of vineyard and a winery intended to consolidate production. The first IX Estate Red and IX Estate Syrah wines were made in 2002. These releases broadened the estate’s range while retaining its focus on high-elevation or hillside terroir and limited production. Over time, Colgin Cellars developed a cult following among collectors and received extensive critical attention. Perfect scores from The Wine Advocate, including 21 100-point ratings cited in the winery’s reference material, contributed to the label’s reputation. Its story has also appeared in wine, luxury, and financial media. Ann Colgin’s activities in art collecting and philanthropy further connected the winery with cultural and charitable institutions, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Centre Pompidou Foundation, and the Naples Winter Wine Festival. In 2017, Colgin entered a strategic partnership with LVMH. The winery became the only American wine label in LVMH’s Vins d’Exception group, placing it alongside several renowned European estates. This relationship gave Colgin an association with a global luxury-wine portfolio while preserving the label’s identity as a Napa Valley producer focused on rare hillside wines. The winery’s contemporary identity rests on the integration of vineyard selection, precision farming, small-scale winemaking, and a stylistic preference for harmony, grace, freshness, perfume, and minerality. Its principal wines remain Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Cariad, IX Estate Red, IX Estate Syrah, and the historically significant Herb Lamb bottling.

1. 2017Strategic partnership with LVMH

   Colgin becomes a strategic partner of LVMH and joins its Vins d’Exception group.

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2. 2007Final cited Herb Lamb vintage

   The Herb Lamb wine’s cited production period concludes with the 2007 vintage.

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3. 2002First IX Estate wines are produced

   Colgin produces the first vintages of IX Estate Red and IX Estate Syrah.

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4. 2000First Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon

   The first vintage of Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from the replanted historic site.

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5. 1999Cariad enters production

   Colgin begins producing Cariad, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the western hillsides of Saint Helena.

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6. 1998IX Estate is acquired

   The winery purchases a 125-acre Pritchard Hill property overlooking Lake Hennessey and plans a vineyard and winery complex.

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7. 1996Tychson Hill property is acquired

   Colgin purchases the historic vineyard site later known as Tychson Hill and begins its modern replanting program.

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8. 1995First vintage is released

   The winery releases its first vintage, marking the beginning of its public commercial history.

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9. 1992Colgin Cellars is founded

   Ann Colgin establishes Colgin Cellars in Napa Valley with a focus on exceptional hillside vineyards.

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Ultra-premium Napa Valley hillside winery focused on rare, terroir-driven wines with perfume, freshness, minerality, harmony, and precision.

• Herb LambCabernet Sauvignon1992

  A site-designated wine sourced from the Herb Lamb Vineyard in the foothills of Howell Mountain. Produced from the 1992 through 2007 vintages, it is associated with a perfumed, charming style featuring blue-fruit and mint-like notes.

• Tychson Hill Cabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon2000

  A Cabernet Sauvignon made from Colgin’s historic Tychson Hill vineyard north of Saint Helena. The site was replanted with heritage clones, and the wine is recognized for an ethereal character, floral tones, and vivid red-fruit expression.

• CariadCabernet Sauvignon-based blend1999

  A structured, opulent red blend from the western hillsides of Saint Helena. Cariad, a Welsh word associated with love, combines Cabernet Sauvignon with other varieties and is characterized by violet, dark-fruit, and gravelly mineral notes.

• IX Estate RedCabernet Sauvignon-based red blend2002

  A flagship red from Colgin’s Pritchard Hill property overlooking Lake Hennessey. The wine is made from grapes grown at IX Estate and reflects the winery’s emphasis on hillside concentration balanced by freshness and precision.

• IX Estate SyrahSyrah2002

  A Syrah from the IX Estate property on Pritchard Hill. It forms part of Colgin’s small portfolio of vineyard-focused wines and was first produced alongside IX Estate Red.

• 2017Enter a strategic partnership with LVMHM&A

  Colgin’s international reputation and luxury positioning aligned with LVMH’s collection of distinguished wine estates.

  What changed. Colgin Cellars became a strategic partner of LVMH and joined the Vins d’Exception group.

  Aftermath. The winery gained a place in LVMH’s international exceptional-wine portfolio while continuing to operate as a Napa Valley label.

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• 1998Develop IX Estate on Pritchard HillStrategy

  Colgin expanded from sourced and acquired vineyard sites toward ownership of a substantial estate capable of supporting its own vineyard and winery operations.

  What changed. The winery purchased a 125-acre parcel, planted approximately 20 acres, and began developing a dedicated production facility.

  Aftermath. IX Estate Red and IX Estate Syrah debuted from the 2002 vintage and became central offerings in the portfolio.

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• 1996Acquire and restore the Tychson Hill vineyardStrategy

  Colgin sought distinctive hillside sites with historical and viticultural significance as the basis for highly individual wines.

  What changed. The winery acquired the historic property north of Saint Helena, replanted it with heritage Cabernet Sauvignon clones, and developed the Tychson Hill identity.

  Aftermath. The first Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon appeared in the 2000 vintage and became one of the estate’s signature wines.

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• 2017Colgin Cellars enters strategic partnership with LVMH

  Colgin Cellars became a strategic partner of LVMH and joined the group’s Vins d’Exception collection.

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• Colgin Cellars earns repeated perfect ratings from The Wine Advocate

  The winery has received 100-point ratings from The Wine Advocate for 21 wines, reinforcing its status among Napa Valley’s most sought-after producers.

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• Colgin’s IX Estate becomes a prominent destination for wine-world visitors

  The IX Estate winery has attracted attention from collectors, athletes, entertainers, and wine-media profiles as an emblem of Napa Valley’s cult-wine culture.

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1. Colgin Cellars