Roy Estate

Shirley Roy, along with her husband Charles, decided in 1999 to establish Roy Estate with the aim of producing quality wines that reflect the beautiful scenery of the Napa Valley. The winery and the vineyards are located in the Stags Leap sub-region, which is in the southern part of the Napa Valley. This part of the valley is somewhat cooler due to the influence of San Pablo Bay.

The six hectares are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. A small creek divides the plots into roughly two halves. Because of this, the two sides have different soil types. One half is a volcanic soil, and the other half is a deeper soil higher in loam. The difference in soil types is manifested in the fact that the one plot has a lower yield than the other and produces grapes with a different tannin structure. Still, both plots have their own qualities.

In the cellar of Roy Estate, you will find Philippe Melka. He has been the winemaker here since 2005. Melka comes from France, and he has been able to gain a lot of experience there at the renowned wineries Château Haut-Brion and Château Pétrus. His motto is: “finding the voice of the vineyard through its terroir”. That is why there are as few interventions as possible, to best live up to this motto. Melka produces four different wines: Mr. Evans, Cabernet Sauvignon, Proprietary Red and La Rêveuse. All wines are a blend, with a composition that changes from year to year. After fermentation, the wines are transferred to French oak barrels. The duration of the aging depends on the wine but is on average between 20 and 30 months.

The total production is limited and there is even a waiting list where you can register to obtain this beautiful wine. Moreover, the wines have received high scores from the very first vintage from well-known wine journalists such as Robert Parker and James Suckling!