Opus One
Opus One is a Napa Valley winery producing a single flagship Bordeaux-style red blend, one of California's most celebrated cult wines. Founded as a joint venture between two legendary figures of the wine world, the estate has become synonymous with premium New World Cabernet-based blends that rival the great wines of Bordeaux.
Each vintage is a proprietary blend crafted from grapes grown in the Oakville district of Napa Valley, emphasizing elegance, structure, and remarkable aging potential. Opus One is widely regarded as a benchmark for luxury American wine and a prized addition to serious collections.
Opus One is a Napa Valley winery producing a single flagship Bordeaux-style red blend, one of California's most celebrated cult wines.
Read more about Opus One
Opus One is a Napa Valley winery producing a single flagship Bordeaux-style red blend, one of California's most celebrated cult wines. Founded as a joint venture between two legendary figures of the wine world, the estate has become synonymous with premium New World Cabernet-based blends that rival the great wines of Bordeaux.
Each vintage is a proprietary blend crafted from grapes grown in the Oakville district of Napa Valley, emphasizing elegance, structure, and remarkable aging potential. Opus One is widely regarded as a benchmark for luxury American wine and a prized addition to serious collections.
History and Founding
Opus One was established in 1978 as a partnership between Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and Robert Mondavi, the pioneering Napa Valley winemaker. The collaboration united centuries of French winemaking tradition with the innovation and terroir of California, and the inaugural vintages of 1979 and 1980 were released together in 1984.
The name 'Opus One' was chosen to evoke a masterwork, suggesting a first great work of art. The venture was notable as one of the first ultra-premium wine partnerships between a Bordeaux estate and a California producer, helping to elevate the international reputation of Napa Valley wines.
The winery's distinctive estate building in Oakville, completed in 1991, has become an architectural landmark. Ownership has evolved over the decades, but the wine has maintained its focus on producing a single, consistent flagship blend.
House Style and Production
Opus One is a Bordeaux-style blend built primarily around Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by varying proportions of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec depending on the vintage. The blend composition changes each year to reflect growing conditions and the winemaking team's pursuit of balance.
The wine is known for its polished, refined character — combining ripe Napa fruit with structured tannins, integrated oak, and the potential to age gracefully for many years, often decades. It is typically aged in new French oak barrels before release.
Grapes are sourced from estate vineyards in the Oakville appellation, an area prized for its gravelly, well-drained soils and consistent climate. Meticulous vineyard management and selective harvesting underpin the wine's consistency and prestige.
Buying and Serving
Opus One is released as a single wine each vintage, so collectors typically build verticals by acquiring multiple years. Vintage variation is a key consideration, and older, well-cellared bottles can command significant premiums at auction and retail.
For best results, serve Opus One at around 60–65°F (16–18°C) and decant young vintages for one to two hours to allow the wine to open up. Its structure and complexity make it an ideal pairing for red meats, lamb, and rich, savory dishes.
Because of its collectibility, buyers should look for proper storage provenance and consider the wine's aging window. Younger vintages benefit from cellaring, while mature bottles are ready to enjoy on release from your provider.