Opus One, California, USA
A California summer evening, Napa Valley, 2003. At twilight, winemaker Ze’ev Dunie and the author of these lines, after a guided visit to the winery, shared a bottle of Opus One 1998 on the rooftop terrace. The scene felt almost surreal. The setting sun and the extraordinary wine combined to create a sublime experience—we felt as though we were standing just a little closer to heaven. The rooftop, like the rest of the winery, is built of pale limestone, with stone benches standing between classical columns reminiscent of an ancient Roman temple.
Located along California’s Highway 29 in the heart of Napa Valley, Opus One is an essential stop for virtually every wine lover visiting the region. The winery was conceived in the 1970s through the visionary partnership of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, owner of Château Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux, and Robert Mondavi, California’s pioneering winemaker. In 1984, they tasted the estate’s inaugural vintage, a wine that soon commanded record-breaking prices. Their paired profiles, featured on the winery’s iconic label, have become an enduring symbol of excellence and prestige, appearing on every bottle produced by the estate.
The two legendary founders have long since departed, leaving their legacy behind. Today, the winery is managed by Michael Silacci, an experienced viticulturist and winemaker who faithfully preserves the estate’s original philosophy. He has also maintained the traditional Bordeaux-inspired barrel storage system: thousands of oak barrels, each marked with a distinctive red band, are arranged in a perfect circle while the wines mature in ideal conditions. The team at Opus One has succeeded in creating what many consider the ultimate Bordeaux blend outside Bordeaux—and, according to some critics, at times even surpassing the original.
Bottom line: Bordeaux in California.
