Napa Valley, California (September 11th, 2020) – The Lawrence Family, owners of Napa Valley’s iconic Heitz Cellar and CEO and Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy, Jr. have acquired celebrated producer Burgess Cellars on Howell Mountain.
“The very first bottle of aged Napa Valley wine that I experienced was an 1984 Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from this estate. I still remember being in utter shock and awe at this incredibly well-balanced mineral wine. It completely changed my perspective early on as to what was possible in Napa. I was delighted to see that Gaylon Lawrence Jr. had the same experience as we tasted through the library of Burgess Cellars.” says McCoy.
As the new custodians of this storied property, the Lawrences and McCoy will continue the tradition of producing quality, award-winning wines from organically farmed fruit.
For the last twenty years, Burgess Cellars has been managed by the second generation of the family. Steven and Jim Burgess continued their father’s tradition of producing age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. “As members of a pioneering Napa Valley family, my brother Jim and I are pleased to now pass on this extraordinary estate that our parents developed fifty years ago to the Lawrence family and Carlton McCoy, Jr.. We look forward to the continued success of Burgess Cellars,” says Steven Burgess. For the last seven years winemaker Kelly Woods has continued building on the legacy of producing well-received wines.
Set apart by terraced hillside vineyards and volcanic rock with ash soils, the vines produce fruit with a distinct profile: densely flavored, structured and rich in color with balanced acidity. This 130-year-old vineyard with 40 year old plantings are defined by compressed volcanic ash (“tuff”) soil as well as its 27% slope.
International Wine Associates (IWA) initiated this transaction and represented the Burgess family with the Buchalter law firm and the buyer was represented by Reidy Law Group in Saint Helena.
About Burgess Cellars
Burgess Cellars is a historic Napa Valley vineyard and winery purchased in 1972 from Lee Stewart of the original Souverain Winery, located on the hillsides of Howell Mountain. Founded by Tom and Linda Burgess in 1972, the winery has been continuously owned and operated by the Burgess family until the acquisition by the Lawrence Family this year. Since its inception, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel have been the flagship varieties, though the brand has since expanded its portfolio to include Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Chardonnay wines.
