Silverado Vineyards Winery

Silverado Vineyards is an American winery located east of Yountville in Napa Valley's Stags Leap District. The estate takes its name from the historic Silverado Vineyard surrounding the winery; that vineyard in turn was named after Silverado, an abandoned mining settlement in the upper Napa Valley. The property has been associated with vineyards since before the winery itself was built, and its modern history began when Ron and Diane Miller purchased the land and existing plantings in the mid-1970s. The Millers initially intended to operate primarily as grape growers. Their plans expanded during the early 1980s, when they began constructing a winery on the property. The winery was completed in 1981 in a California mission-style design by architect Dick Keith. This transition from vineyard ownership to estate winemaking established Silverado Vineyards as a vertically integrated Napa producer with control over both vineyard sites and cellar operations. Over time, Silverado expanded its vineyard holdings beyond the original estate. The winery acquired a total of seven family-owned vineyards in different districts of Napa Valley, giving it access to varied elevations, soils, and microclimates. Its portfolio has included Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with Cabernet Sauvignon representing an important expression of the Stags Leap District and Napa Valley identity. The property had previously been owned by the See family, associated with the See's Candies confectionery business. Silverado Vineyards operates in the premium Napa Valley wine segment, emphasizing estate and appellation-focused production, vineyard character, and the history of its long-held property. Its wines are sold under the Silverado Vineyards name, while the winery and vineyards also function as a destination associated with Napa Valley wine tourism. The company remains active and became part of Foley Family Wines in July 2022, following an acquisition reported to have a purchase price exceeding $150 million. The transaction placed Silverado within a larger privately held wine portfolio while preserving its identity as a Napa Valley winery.

Silverado Vineyards is situated east of Yountville, California, in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. The estate's name comes from the Silverado Vineyard that surrounds the winery. That vineyard was named for Silverado, a former mining town located near the top of the Napa Valley, linking the modern wine business to the region's earlier mining and settlement history. Ron and Diane Miller purchased the property in the mid-1970s. At the time, the land already contained vineyards, and the Millers' original plan was to focus on growing grapes rather than immediately building a winery. Their operation later developed into a complete winery project. Construction began in 1981, and architect Dick Keith designed the building in an interpretation of the California mission style. The opening of the winery marked the transition of the property from a vineyard-growing operation into an estate wine producer. The property had previously been held by the See family, whose business interests included See's Candies. Under the Millers, Silverado Vineyards expanded its agricultural base by acquiring seven family-owned vineyards in different parts of Napa Valley. These properties provided access to a range of conditions within the valley and supported production across several grape varieties. Silverado has produced Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery's location in the Stags Leap District gives its Cabernet Sauvignon and other red-wine offerings a strong connection to one of Napa's best-known viticultural areas. Silverado's identity combines the history of a named estate, the character of the Stags Leap District, and a broader Napa Valley vineyard network. Its business encompasses vineyard cultivation, winemaking, branded wine sales, and the visitor-facing winery experience associated with Napa Valley. Rather than being defined by a single grape variety alone, the brand has maintained a portfolio approach while retaining Cabernet Sauvignon as a central premium-wine category. In July 2022, Foley Family Wines acquired Silverado Vineyards. The reported estimated purchase price was more than $150 million. The acquisition changed the winery's ownership and placed it within Foley Family Wines' broader collection of wine businesses, while Silverado continued to operate under its established Napa Valley name. Available reference material does not identify a subsequent rebranding, closure, or change in the winery's active status.

• 2022

  Acquisition by Foley Family Wines

  [1]Silverado Vineyards Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Foley Family Wines acquired Silverado Vineyards in July 2022 in a transaction reported to be valued at more than $150 million.

• 1981

  Winery construction begins

  [1]Silverado Vineyards Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The Millers expanded beyond grape growing and began construction of a winery on the estate. The building was designed by architect Dick Keith in a California mission-style form.

• 1970

  The Miller family acquires the vineyard property

  [1]Silverado Vineyards Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Ron and Diane Miller purchased land east of Yountville with existing vineyards in the mid-1970s. The property became the foundation of Silverado Vineyards.

A premium Napa Valley winery centered on estate and multi-vineyard wines, with a particular connection to the Stags Leap District and a historic California winery property.

• Red wine

  Cabernet Sauvignon

  Cabernet Sauvignon is a core Silverado Vineyards offering and a natural fit for the winery's Stags Leap District location. The category connects the brand with Napa Valley's premium Cabernet tradition and with the estate's emphasis on vineyard-specific character.

• White wine

  Sauvignon Blanc

  Silverado Vineyards produces Sauvignon Blanc as part of its Napa Valley portfolio. The wine broadens the brand beyond its red-wine focus and reflects the winery's use of multiple vineyard sites and grape varieties.

• White wine

  Chardonnay

  Chardonnay is one of Silverado Vineyards' established white-wine categories. It forms part of the winery's multi-variety range alongside Sauvignon Blanc and the estate's red wines.

• Red wine

  Merlot

  Merlot is included in Silverado Vineyards' portfolio of Napa Valley wines. Its presence gives the winery a softer, varietal-focused red-wine option in addition to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.

• Red wine

  Sangiovese

  Silverado Vineyards has produced Sangiovese as part of its broader varietal program. The wine demonstrates that the winery's range is not limited to the grape varieties most closely associated with Napa Valley.

• 2022

  Sale to Foley Family WinesM&A

  Background

  Silverado Vineyards had developed from a family-owned Napa Valley property into a multi-vineyard winery with holdings in several valley districts.

  Action taken

  Foley Family Wines acquired Silverado Vineyards in July 2022.

  Aftermath

  Silverado became part of Foley Family Wines' private wine portfolio. The estimated purchase price was reported as more than $150 million.

  Estimated acquisition price. More than $150 million (July 2022)

  Source

• 1981

  Move from grape growing into winery productionStrategy

  Background

  Ron and Diane Miller initially intended to grow grapes on the property they acquired in the mid-1970s. They later chose to establish an on-site winery, creating a more vertically integrated estate operation.

  Action taken

  Construction of a winery began in 1981, with a California mission-style building designed by Dick Keith.

  Aftermath

  The decision established Silverado Vineyards as a branded Napa Valley winery rather than solely a vineyard and grape-growing business.

  Source

1. 1Silverado Vineyards Wineryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Silverado Vineyards official websitesilveradovineyards.com