Edward Wallis is proud to announce the feature of Wallis Family Estate in the November 30, 2016 Issue of Wine Spectator. After 10 years of making consistently high rated Cabernet Sauvignon from the Diamond Mountain District, he hit the radar of WS.
Four To Watch: A diverse group of vintners alter the Napa landscape
Authors: Augustus Weed, Aaron Romano Issue: November 30, 2016
WALLIS FAMILY ESTATE
A diamond in the rough
Edward Wallis spent 23 years on Diamond Mountain, at the northern end of Napa Valley, before realizing the potential of his 85-acre estate. “I just wanted to live in a beautiful place,” says Wallis, 64, who purchased the property in 1975, fresh out of college. The Bay Area native made the move with the intent of being a sculptor. Instead he shifted his focus to real estate development in Napa.
It was his work in real estate that led him to the Diamond Mountain property, which he fell in love with. On the estate is a stone castle built in 1906 and a carriage house built in the late 1800s. The castle offers a peek into the past, with redwood paneling, stained-glass windows, an iron stove and period furnishings. Wallis spent years restoring and maintaining the historic property before deciding to plant vineyards in 1998. “The valley led me to this business,” says Wallis, who notes that being surrounded by great properties, including neighbor Diamond Creek Vineyards, was a tremendous influence on him.
Diamond Mountain is one of the lesser-known appellations in Napa Valley. Much of the area’s vineyards are tucked in the valleys of the foothills, shrouded by towering redwoods and sprawling oaks that limit afternoon sun exposure, leading to the rugged tannins that Diamond Mountain wines are known for. Wallis’ vineyard is one of the few in the area that doesn’t fall into afternoon shade. “We pick based on tannin ripeness, and don’t macerate as long in the cellar,” says winemaker Thomas Brown, explaining that while he typically macerates wines from the valley floor for 16 to 18 days, he only macerates the Wallis wines for 14 days.
The Wallis Cabernets illustrate the muscle of the region, showing richness and density while still retaining a sense of finesse and polish. “We wanted to make something drinkable in its youth, but still with the Diamond Mountain qualities,” Wallis says.
Wallis admits that he’s still in the brand-building phase, but the wines are helping to tell the story of the property, which was previously planted to vineyards and once functioned as a Sherry production facility and export business. Wallis recently had both buildings on the estate accepted into the National Register of Historic Places, allowing him to share his piece of Napa history with visitors just as he shares his wines.
WALLIS FAMILY ESTATE Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District Seraphim 2013
93 $175
250 cases made
