Demeine Estates is proud to represent our winery partners in the most reputable publications in the world, and to share our own successes with the larger wine industry.

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feature coverage

Heitz Cellar: Seven Years into New Ownership

Decanter
- by Clive Pursehouse
 - January 2026

The road that winds its way to Heitz Cellar and the historic property, which includes a barrel house built in 1898, is
a trip back in time. A quiet slice of the old Napa, tucked amid sprawling oak trees away from the tasting room traffic on the Silverado Trail. Founded by Joe and Alice Heitz in 1961, Heitz quickly established itself among America’s great producers. A pioneer in many ways, Heitz created America’s first single vineyard-designate, the 1966 Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, becoming the first to champion terroir in Napa and the US.

The Best High-End Champagne for When You Really Want to Treat Yourself

Food & Wine
 - December 2025

Blanc de noirs Champagnes, made from 100% red grapes (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, or a combination of the two) can sometimes be a bit too blunt or unfocused, but not this 2019 cuvée from Philipponnat. That’s partially due to the low dosage of 4.25 grams per liter, and partially to Philipponnat’s longtime experience with Pinot-based Champagnes. The house’s legendary single-vineyard Clos de Goisses bottling is typically 2/3 Pinot, as is its very good non-vintage blend, the Royal Réserve Brut, guided by the hand of Charles Philipponnat.

Champagne’s Allure

Wine Spectator
 - December 2025

Just a step behind these late-disgorged wines are three new releases rated 97 points, including two site-specific bottlings showcasing Champagne’s distinctive terroirPhilipponnat’s renowned Clos des Goisses, which was the first single-vineyard Champagne with its launch of the 1935 vintage, checks in with the Extra Brut Clos des Goisses 2015, a blend of Pinot Noir (78 percent) and Chardonnay (22 percent) from the 13.6-acre vineyard of the same name in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.

Fifty years ago, seven wineries put Napa Valley on the map. They’ll be celebrating all year long.

7x7
 - December 2025

Known for crafting single-vineyard wines, Heitz Cellar’s 1970 Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon placed seventh among the red contenders in Paris. The winery made history a decade earlier, however, when it was the first wine in Napa Valley to be labelled with a vineyard designation. In 2018, Heitz Cellar was acquired by Lawrence Wine Estates.

The “Face of Napa” Loved by Millennials & Gen Z: “A Wine That Never Changes”

Asia Business Daily
- by Goo Eunmo
 - November 2025

The core of Heitz Cellar lies in its “gentle Napa Cabernet Sauvignon”-a winemaking philosophy that avoids excessive concentration or raising alcohol levels. Bouvier said, “Many consumers think of Napa reds as powerful, heavy, and high in alcohol, but Heitz stands in the opposite direction,” explaining, “Our wines have excellent acidity, refined aromas, soft tannins, and an alcohol content below 14%, making them harmonious with food. They are enjoyable immediately after opening and continue to shine even after ten years.”

The 50 Greatest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons of the 21st Century (So Far)

Robb Report
- by Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
 - November 2025

Joe Heitz started making wine in Napa Valley and is said to have created California’s first “vineyard designate” wine from his Martha’s Vineyard parcel in Oakville. We have tasted library vintages of Heitz going back a few decades and can tell you the team purposefully makes wines that are built to age. Heitz Cellar’s 2016 has intriguing aromas of dried sage, black plum, and pencil lead with silky tannins and flavors of ripe black fruits, candied orange peel, and finely grounded brown baking spices.

12 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From Josh Hart’s Wine

NY Mag
 - November 2025

“To say that Knicks player Josh Hart knows his wine would be an understatement. (In fact, last year, he told us he can’t live without an $1,800 bottle of red.) So, when we asked him what present he’d give to everyone for the rest of his life, his answer just made sense: “Whatever that current vintage of Heitz is, I probably would give them that,” he says. “That’s one of my go-to good wines. A lot of people my age or older either like wine or are getting into wine. So you can’t miss with that.”

J.P. Morgan Launches Curated Collection of Books and Experiences to Drive Your Next Big Idea

NASDAQ
 - November 2025

Burgess Cellars, founded by Tom Burgess in 1972 on Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain, continues a winemaking tradition in the region that started in the 1870s with Swiss-Italian pioneers. After acquiring the original Souverain estate, Burgess and winemaker Bill Sorenson built a reputation for outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon, with Sorenson’s 41-year career being one of Napa’s longest. Today, led by Gaylon Lawrence, Jr., Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy and winemaker Reid GriggsBurgess Cellars honors its heritage through regenerative farming and a focus on preserving the magic of its wines for future generations.

Napa’s loveliest spots for drinking and dining

The Times
 - November 2025

The McCrea family planted vines high up on Spring Mountain in the 1940s and for decades made fresh, delicate (and utterly delicious) chardonnays and cabernets. The estate has been updated since it was sold in 2020, but the wines remain as beguiling as ever. After a 4×4 vineyard tour, you taste overlooking a vast, wild mountain backdrop. This is a side of Napa that few see: the winery has an almost spiritual oneness with the hillsides, and the wines seem to speak of the mineral-laden soils they come from.

Demeine Estates Debuts Villa Sandi NA Sparkler

Shanken News Daily
 - October 2025

California-based importer and marketer Demeine Estates is launching Villa Sandi’s “Il Fresco” Alcohol Free Sparkling expression in the U.S. market. Produced with estate fruit, the wine undergoes “a dealcoholization process involving vacuum distillation and subsequent condensation to remove the alcohol without altering the aromatic and organoleptic profile,” according to the company.

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Events

videos & Podcasts

Drinking on the Edge Podcast

January 2025

Chablis – Terroir & Talent

Wine Country Women

Wine Country Women
- by Michelle Mandro
 - August 2024

Episode 225- Meghan Zobeck, Burgess Cellars

Wines to Celebrate With: From the Aspen Food and Wine Classic

Wine Access Unfiltered

The Drinking Hour podcast: An introduction to Chablis

Club Oenologique

Straight Talk with Wine Spectator: Meghan Zobeck

Wine Spectator
 - June 2024

CBS News Travel Tuesday

Omnibus XXIII

Omnibus

Philana Bouvier | Masterclass US Wine Market With Juliana Colangelo

Italian Wine Podcast
 - June 2023

2023 SVB State of the Wine Industry Report | 1/18/23

Silicon Valley Bank
 - January 2022

Meet Carlton McCoy

Heritage Radio Network
 - November 2022

Episode 92 – Philana Bouvier of Demeine Estates on Women in Wine, Demeine’s Portfolio, and Champagne

Uncorked Corner
 - November 2022

A Master Sommelier’s Holiday Meal Wine Pairings

The Rachael Ray Show
 - November 2022
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press releases

Demeine Estates and United Airlines Partner to Offer Luxury Napa Valley Wines to United Polaris® Customers

March 2025

Just as Heitz Cellar Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Stony Hill Napa Valley Chardonnay are flagships for their iconic wineries, United Polaris is the benchmark for excellence for premium cabin travel. This partnership represents both companies’ commitment to top tier hospitality.

Demeine Estates and United Airlines Partner to Offer Luxury Napa Valley Wines to United Polaris® Customers

March 2025

Fine wine importer Demeine Estates and United Airlines are excited to announce a first-of-its-kind strategic alliance partnership that will give customers in United’s Polaris business class the opportunity to experience luxury wines from Lawrence Wine Estates’ renowned Napa Valley portfolio, highlighting selections from legacy wineries Heitz Cellar and Stony Hill on board. This partnership marks United’s first-ever, multi-year wine deal.

Jeremy Seysses of Legendary Domaine Dujac and Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy Join Forces to Launch Trailside Vineyard

February 2025

Today marks the announcement of Trailside Vineyard, a soulful, forthright new perspective in Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford: one that honors the great classical wines of Napa Valley’s halcyon days of the 1960s and 1970s.

Jeremy Seysses of Legendary Domaine Dujac and Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy Join Forces to Launch Trailside Vineyard

February 2025

Domaine Dujac, one of Burgundy’s most celebrated and influential domaines, has partnered with Master Sommelier and CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates, Carlton McCoy Jr., to deliver a fresh new expression of Cabernet Sauvignon — evoking a bygone time in Rutherford.

Fine Wine Importer Demeine Estates Announces President Philana Bouvier Receives North Bay Business Journal’s Women in Wine Trailblazer Award

June 2024

Napa Valley-based Fine Wine Importer Demeine Estates is excited to announce that President Philana Bouvier has been recognized as part of North Bay Business Journal’s 2024 Women in Wine Awards. North Bay Business Journal’s annual awards celebrate the achievements and contributions of female winemakers and wine industry professionals in the North Bay.

Fine Wine Importer Demeine Estates Announces New Exclusive Import Partnership with Sassetti Livio, Iconic Brunello di Montalcino Producer

April 2024

Demeine Estates proudly announces an exclusive import partnership with Sassetti Livio. Beginning April 2024, Demeine Estates will manage the US distribution and marketing of Sassetti Livio’s Brunello di Montalcino DOCG wines from their famed vineyards in Montosoli, as well as the Montecucco Rosso DOC selection from their estate in Maremma.

Demeine Estates Partners with Berry Bros. & Rudd to Position Heitz Cellar and Ink Grade to UK Fine Wine Market

December 2023

Fine wine importer Demeine Estates is pleased to announce Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant, will represent Heitz Cellar and Ink Grade, two estates from their Napa Valley portfolio, in the UK market. Both wineries are part of the Lawrence Wine Estates portfolio, which Demeine Estates markets and distributes both in North America and globally.

Fine Wine Importer Demeine Estates Announces Exclusive Import Partnership with Legacy Champagne Producer Philipponnat

December 2023

Demeine Estates is proud to announce their exclusive import partnership with premier Champagne House Philipponnat, a celebrated legacy producer with more than 500 years of winegrowing history. They have owned and farmed vineyards in Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ for 15 generations, including the legendary Clos des Goisses, a vineyard unparalleled in the Champagne region that has been owned by Philipponnat for nearly a century.

Philipponnat offers a portfolio of Champagnes with discerning quality and character, known as one of the great vintage producers. Demeine Estates is importing the full range, including three non-vintage cuvees, three vintage cuvees, and four prestige cuvees. Founded in 1522, this historic House in the heart of Champagne has undergone a renaissance since 15th generation family member Charles Philipponnat took the helm in 2000.

Fine Wine Importer Demeine Estates Enters Vino Nobile di Montepulciano with Boscarelli Exclusive Import Partnership

October 2023

Fine wine importer Demeine Estates is pleased to announce their exclusive import partnership with Poderi Boscarelli, the premier producer of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Located in the Tuscan historic appellation, the winery was founded by Egidio Corradi in 1962 and today is led by Egidio’s daughter Paola De Ferrari Corradi, together with her sons Luca and Nicolò De Ferrari Corradi.

Fine Wine Importer Demeine Estates Announces New Import Partnership with Villa Sandi, The Iconic Premium Prosecco

September 2023

Fine wine importer and marketer Demeine Estates proudly announces their exclusive import partnership with Villa Sandi, Italy’s leading Prosecco producer. Beginning in January 2024, Demeine Estates will manage the US distribution and execute the marketing activities of Villa Sandi’s renowned portfolio of Proseccos from DOC and DOCG designations of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene and Asolo, as well as their wines from Collio winery, Borgo Conventi.

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acclaim

93

Ink Grade 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Spectator

A textbook ’21, with succulent and vivid boysenberry and blackberry fruit streaming along. Anise and apple wood, plus a fresh savory edge, add detail and range through the nicely defined finish. Drink now through 2036.

94

Ink Grade 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Vinous

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a bruiser. Inky dark fruit, gravel, licorice and lavender all saturate the palate. Bold and punchy, the 2021 is so well-balanced for such a young wine. I can’t wait to see how it ages.

91

Heitz Cellar 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Vinous

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is beautiful. Sensual, open-knit and inviting, the 2022 has so much to offer. Crushed flowers, sweet red-toned fruit, white pepper and spice are very nicely lifted. This mid-weight, beautifully pliant Cabernet will be impossible to resist in its youth. Stylistically, the Napa Valley Cabernet feels just a touch riper than the other wines in the range.

91

Burgess 2022 Contadina Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Vinous

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Contadina is a blend mostly from Burgess’ valley-floor sites with some fruit from the Sorenson Vineyard. It’s a soft, earthy Cabernet with lovely forward fruit and mid-weight structure. Spice, tobacco, incense and brambly notes are nicely delineated throughout. Give this a few years to soften.

99

Heitz Cellar 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Decanter

Remarkable pure and fresh. Pristine black cherry and blackberry, layered with beautiful violet aromas. Everything builds with precision and focus, supported by gorgeously firm, taut, mineral-rich tannins that bring energy and drive. The wines compact and tightly wound at this youthful stage, its intensity truly emblematic of the vintage. Drink 2026-2060.

97

Heitz Cellar 2021 Linda Falls Cabernet Sauvignon

Decanter

Pretty and focused, laced with bright acidity. Aromas of cherry and blackberry fruit mingle with crushed cocoa nibs, violets and rose petals. The palate builds with great intensity, juicy acids and a host of warm, spiced red and black fruit, along with fresh floral nuances. Soaring yet refined tannins lead to a long finish marked by salty mineral tension. Drink 2026-2055.

93

Heitz Cellar 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Advocate
95

Heitz Cellar 2019 Linda Falls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Advocate
95

Heitz Cellar 2019 Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Advocate
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