Screaming Eagle Winery and Vineyards
A small-production Napa Valley estate celebrated for its highly sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon and cult-wine status.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Screaming Eagle Winery and Vineyards is a small-production wine estate in Oakville, Napa Valley, California. It is best known for a Cabernet Sauvignon that became one of Napa Valley's most coveted cult wines because of its combination of limited supply, strong critical reception, and exceptional prices in the secondary market. The estate's production remains intentionally small, with the winery associated primarily with high-end varietal wines rather than a broad portfolio of mass-market products. Jean Phillips, a former real-estate agent, acquired a 57-acre Oakville property in 1986. The vineyard initially contained several grape varieties, most of which Phillips sold to other Napa wineries. She retained approximately one acre planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, consisting of roughly 80 vines, and began investigating whether a wine from this small parcel could have commercial potential. After seeking opinions from people associated with Robert Mondavi Winery, Phillips engaged Richard Peterson as a consultant. Through Peterson, she met his daughter, Heidi Peterson Barrett, who became Screaming Eagle's first winemaker. The first Screaming Eagle vintage was the 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon, released in 1995. Its very small production and an exceptionally favorable review from wine critic Robert Parker, who gave the wine 99 points, rapidly established the label as one of Napa's most celebrated and expensive wines. The estate later replanted the vineyard in 1995 with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The broader vineyard holdings also include a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc. Although the estate is associated with a 57-acre property, its planted vineyard area is reported at approximately 48.21 acres. Ownership changed in March 2006, when the estate was sold to Stan Kroenke and Charles Banks. Phillips said the new owners planned to renovate or replace older structures, replant portions of the vineyard, preserve the estate's small scale, and pursue higher quality. Banks departed in April 2009, after which Kroenke became the sole proprietor. Armand de Maigret has served as estate manager. Vineyard operations have been associated with David Abreu Vineyard Management, with Jorge Delgado and his team identified as vineyard personnel. The winemaking team has included Nick Gislason and Robert Black, with Michel Rolland serving as a consultant. Production is generally reported at approximately 400 to 750 cases per year, equivalent to roughly 5,000 to 9,000 750-milliliter bottles. This constrained volume, combined with allocation-based demand and the wine's reputation among collectors, supports the brand's ultra-premium positioning. The 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon has also achieved extraordinary auction visibility: a bottle reportedly sold for US$500,000 at the 2000 Napa Valley Charity Auction, and the vintage has continued to be cited among the world's most expensive wines. Screaming Eagle therefore operates less like a conventional high-volume consumer brand and more like a prestige estate whose identity rests on vineyard provenance, scarcity, critical recognition, and collector demand.
History
Screaming Eagle Winery and Vineyards developed from a small Oakville vineyard acquired by Jean Phillips in 1986. Phillips, who had previously worked in real estate, purchased a 57-acre property containing a mixture of grape varieties. She sold most of the fruit to other Napa producers but retained an approximately one-acre Cabernet Sauvignon parcel of about 80 vines. Rather than immediately creating a large commercial winery, she explored whether wine from the small planting could succeed, consulting people connected with Robert Mondavi Winery and later hiring Richard Peterson as a consultant. Peterson introduced Phillips to his daughter, Heidi Peterson Barrett, who became the estate's first winemaker. The resulting 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon was released in 1995. Its production was extremely limited, and Robert Parker's 99-point evaluation gave the wine major visibility among critics and collectors. The combination of a tiny supply, strong reviews, and Napa Valley provenance transformed Screaming Eagle into a cult wine and helped place it among the most expensive wines associated with the region. The vineyard was replanted in 1995 with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The estate's planted area is reported at 48.21 acres, with a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc also present. Its wines remain centered on limited-production varietal bottlings, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon. Reported annual production ranges from approximately 400 to 750 cases, or about 5,000 to 9,000 standard bottles. Such volume is far below that of mainstream winery brands and is central to the estate's scarcity-based business model. On March 17, 2006, Phillips sold Screaming Eagle to Stan Kroenke and Charles Banks. In communications about the transaction, she described plans to renovate existing structures or construct new ones, replant the vineyard, preserve the estate's small scale, and pursue greater quality. Charles Banks left the ownership arrangement in April 2009, making Kroenke the sole proprietor. Armand de Maigret has been identified as estate manager. Vineyard work has been associated with David Abreu Vineyard Management and vineyard foreman Jorge Delgado and his team. The winemaking personnel have included Nick Gislason and Robert Black, while Michel Rolland has been identified as a consultant. The estate's reputation extends beyond ordinary retail wine markets. The 1992 vintage received continuing attention from collectors after a bottle reportedly sold for US$500,000 at the 2000 Napa Valley Charity Auction. Later wine coverage, including a 2023 Prestige Hong Kong feature, continued to describe the vintage as one of the world's most expensive wines. Screaming Eagle's brand equity consequently rests on four linked attributes: a specific Oakville estate, very small production, influential critical acclaim, and exceptional demand from collectors. It is best understood as a luxury wine property rather than a conventional volume-oriented beverage company.
- 2023
1992 vintage receives renewed international luxury-wine attention
[1]Prestige Hong Kong listed the 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon among the world's most expensive wines.
- 2009
Stan Kroenke becomes sole proprietor
[1]Charles Banks left the ownership arrangement, leaving Kroenke as the sole owner.
- 2006
Ownership passes to Stan Kroenke and Charles Banks
[1]The estate was sold to Kroenke and Banks, who said they intended to preserve its small scale while investing in the property and vineyard.
- 2000
1992 vintage reaches an extraordinary auction valuation
[1]A bottle of the 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon reportedly sold for US$500,000 at the Napa Valley Charity Auction.
- 1995
The first vintage is released and the vineyard is replanted
[1]The 1992 wine entered the market in 1995, the same year the vineyard was replanted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.
- 1992
First Screaming Eagle vintage is produced
[1]The estate produced the 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon, later released in 1995 and credited with establishing the label's cult-wine reputation.
- 1986
Jean Phillips acquires the Oakville vineyard
[1]Jean Phillips purchased a 57-acre Oakville property and retained a small Cabernet Sauvignon parcel while selling much of the other vineyard output.
Products and positioning
Ultra-premium, scarce Napa Valley estate wine positioned around vineyard identity, low production, critical acclaim, collector demand, and luxury-market exclusivity.
Cabernet Sauvignon · 1995
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon
The estate's signature wine and principal source of its cult-wine reputation. It is made in very limited quantities from the Oakville vineyard and is associated with concentrated collector demand, influential critical reviews, and unusually high prices in specialist and auction markets. The 1992 vintage, released in 1995, is particularly renowned after receiving a 99-point review from Robert Parker.
Bordeaux-variety red wine
Screaming Eagle Red Wine
The estate's red-wine production is centered on Bordeaux varieties grown at Oakville, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The property's replanting program established these varieties as the principal components of its vineyard identity. Publicly available reference material does not provide a complete list of separate current red-wine cuvée names.
Sauvignon Blanc
Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc
A small amount of Sauvignon Blanc is reported among the estate's plantings. It is secondary to the winery's Cabernet Sauvignon identity, and the available reference material does not establish a detailed product history or current release specification for this wine.
Brand decisions
2006
Change ownership while preserving the estate's small scaleM&ABackground
Jean Phillips accepted an offer for the winery after building its reputation around a highly limited Cabernet Sauvignon.
Action taken
Stan Kroenke and Charles Banks acquired the estate and proposed property improvements and vineyard replanting while retaining limited production.
Aftermath
Banks later departed, and Kroenke became the sole proprietor in 2009.
2006
Reinvest in vineyard and estate infrastructureStrategyBackground
The new owners identified older structures and vineyard areas as subjects for improvement.
Action taken
They planned to renovate existing structures or build new ones and replant portions of the vineyard.
Aftermath
The estate continued to operate as a small, high-quality Oakville property rather than expanding into a volume winery.
1995
Maintain an ultra-small-production estate modelStrategyBackground
The winery's reputation emerged from a very small Cabernet Sauvignon planting and extremely limited output.
Action taken
Screaming Eagle continued to emphasize scarce estate production rather than pursuing mass-market scale.
Aftermath
Limited availability became a central part of the brand's luxury positioning and collector appeal.
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