While Etude’s Pinot Noir comes from its Estate Vineyard, the winery sources premium quality Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties from growers throughout Napa Valley.

Schoenstein Vineyard
Schoenstein Vineyard is owned by Margaret Schoenstein, who purchased the property with her husband in 1969. Margaret still lives on the property and gets great satisfaction in walking the vineyard daily. Her son Richard Schoenstein manages the vineyard and takes the utmost care, paying attention to every detail. The vineyard is located on the north end of the St. Helena appellation on the west side of the valley, just a stone’s throw from the historical Bale Grist Mill. The vineyard is very rocky with well drained soil. The Native Americans used this site for working obsidian carried from the east side of the valley. Obsidian is the stone from which Arrowheads are made. On lucky days we will find a piece that resembles an arrowhead. The vineyard was planted to the current Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc selections in 1991.
Pictured Here: Margaret Schoenstein, Franci Ashton (Etude Viticulturalist), Richard Schoenstein

Vine Hill Ranch
Vine Hill Ranch, located in the Oakville appellation, has some of the most sought after Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the valley. The vineyard terrain is mostly bench land vineyards with a few blocks on the hillside. The vineyard is owned by Robert and Alex Phillips. Tony Soter has been working alongside the Phillips in this vineyard for a number of years and he has the fortunate opportunity to continue with the new generation. The Cabernet Sauvignon blocks that Etude works with range in age from seven years old to fifteen years old. The older block is a masterpiece, clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon on 3309 rootstock with a trellis system that allows the clusters to hang loose of each other with a wonderful light environment. It feels like you have stepped back in time and are growing the Cabernets of the yesteryear, but with the viticultural knowledge of today.
Pictured Here: Franci Ashton (Etude Viticulturalist), Robert & Alex Phillips, Bruce Phillips

Frediani Family
The Frediani Family has been farming in northern Napa Valley since 1898, with the third generation currently tending vines first planted in 1935. The 130-acre vineyard is managed by Jim Frediani and his mother, Jeanne, who keeps the books. It is planted to a panoply of wine grape varietals. In addition to the requisite Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the family has Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Valdigue (aka Napa Gamay) and a prized block of 60+ year old Charbono vines.
Pictured Here: Jim Frediani, Jeanne Frediani, Franci Ashton (Etude Viticulturalist)

Luvisi Ranch
Brothers Don and Clarence Luvisi are third generation wine grape growers on the Luvisi Ranch. With 35 acres of vineyard, they are carrying on a family tradition of farming that is as natural to them as waking up in the morning. The Luvisi Family has continuously farmed some of the oldest vines in Napa Valley, dating to 1908. Etude makes wine for the Fortitude label from their Semillon and also their “Very Old Vine Zinfandel” vines that date back to 1915. The vineyards are located on the east side of Calistoga. The Luvisi Ranch, and a few others in this pocket of the Napa Valley, takes you back in time to the earliest days of “wine country”.
Pictured Here: Clarence Luvisi, Franci Ashton (Etude Viticulturalist), Don Luvisi