Magazine of wine 

Cathiard Family Estate in St Helena, Napa Valley is one of those awe-inspiring places with an identity that is immediately apparent. Daniel and Florence Cathiard, owners of Chateau Smith Haute Lafitte fame in Bordeaux, completed the purchase of this 200-acre property in 2020. In many ways, the future potential of this property is reminiscent of their grand cru classe estate in France’s Pessac-Léognan appellation. The Cathiards are poised to position their wines at the top tier of Napa’s elite.

Daniel and Florence met while on the French Olympic ski team in 1960’s, finding love on the Alpine slopes. Together they managed an extensive number of supermarket stores and a chain of sporting good businesses. In 1990, they pivoted, selling their business and purchasing the historic 14th century chateau and vineyards near Bordeaux. They elevated the reputation and wines of this estate with a mission statement that read “To do our utmost so that every vintage of our red and white wines reflects the full potential of our magnificent terroir.”

Cathiard Estate is situated at the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains in St. Helena, California. The property changed hands several times between 1840 and 1885 until Scottish emigrants James and William Rennie purchased the property from Martin Furstenfeld in 1885. The Rennie brothers constructed a gravity flow winery and planted 60 acres of grapes. Falling into disrepair after phylloyxera and Prohibition, the winery closed. In 1933 Louis Martini and his wife purchased the property, using it as their residence while storing Martini’s wine. Martini stayed on the estate until his passing in 1974. In 1978, the Komes and Garvey families became owners and named the property Flora Springs Winery, until it was later acquired by the Cathiards in 2020.

Cathiard Estate Vineyards is an idyllic location with 200 acres of mountainside and Napa Valley floor vineyards. The rolling hillside vineyards extend to 500 feet in elevation with a spring fed reservoir near the top. The property is officially in St Helena but also straddles the Rutherford appellation with volcanic and sedimentary sub-soils.


As with their property in France, the Cathiards are intent on resurrecting this historic winery and vineyards. The Cathiards, being extremely savvy in winemaking and business, are intent on creating a state of the art wine making facility with their own cooperage. Of course, as with their other property in France, a new hospitality center is in place. Florence and Daniel realized “our vineyard must be earned, it requires vigilance, commitment and a respect for the legacy of the pioneers before us.”

They are growing their team with the French, energetic Justine Labbé, who has been appointed general manager and head winemaker. She had worked with Fabien Teitgen, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte’s senior technical director in Bordeaux before transitioning to California. Tiegen has been overseeing winemaking for over 20 years at the chateau and as is responsible for much of its winemaking success. Fabien Teitgen visits the property several times a year overseeing winemaking, vineyard development and the overall project. Tiegen professes that this endeavor “is the beginning of a story. It is our view of Napa Valley.”

At this point in time. the Cathiards objective is to produce two Bordeaux red blends and a Cathiard Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. The blends are named Hora, after a group of Greek goddesses representing the change of seasons, Founding Brothers after James and William Rennie, and Cathiard Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyards are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The estate vineyards have transitioned to organic and biodynamic farming practices.