Continuum Wine

“The bonds of family run deep at Continuum, where Tim and Marcia Mondavi have created a world-class estate in just a few years.”  - Antonio Galloni

Continuum Wines are more than a successful Napa Valley wine estate, they represent an inimitable family legacy of one of the region's most renowned names, Mondavi. Born out of an unthinkable loss, the Continuum Estate has quickly climbed the ranks of Napa wines in its two-decade run. Producing immaculate red blends in Pritchard Hill, Continuum wine tasting is a necessity for all wine enthusiasts, illustrating the highest-quality wines one can enjoy from the terroir. 

Continuum Estate: A New Era for the Mondavi Legacy

Following the controversial sale of the legendary Robert Mondavi Winery in 2004, the Mondavi family was left devastated and in need of a new project. In 2005, the family opened the Continuum Estate, continuing the family's legacy and seeking to begin a new era in Napa Valley wine. Led by Robert's son, Tim, and his daughter, Marcia, the pair began sourcing fruit from the famed To Kalon vineyard before purchasing plots of land in Pritchard Hill four years later. Rather than growing fruit on the Oakville valley floor, Tim and Marcia chose elevated, mountain-high vineyards, marking a new standard in the Mondavi winemaking practice. 

Pritchard Hill: The Heart of Continuum Wine

Continuum's estate vineyard, known as Sage Mountain Vineyard, stands between 1325 and 1600 feet above sea level. Of the 173 acres on Pritchard Hill, only 71 are devoted to vineyards, planted primarily with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot, and 5% Merlot. Each varietal is neatly separated and planted in 1-2 acre blocks. 

The red, rocky, and mineral-rich volcanic soils provide impeccable drainage and low fertility, causing the vines to struggle and produce small yields with intense, structured, and complex fruit. Warm air rising from the valley floor at night is offset by cool breezes during the day, keeping the vines healthy and thickening the skins of the grapes, adding density, structure, and depth to the final bottles.

Ultimately, the vineyard's high elevations provide stunning views of Napa Valley and the San Francisco Bay, as the slopes face west and southwest in the region. While Robert Mondavi built a legacy on valley-floor winemaking, Tim's decision to head high in the hills has proved beneficial for Continuum wines. 

Continuum Proprietary Red Blends Winemaking

Continuum's flagship wine is the Proprietary Red Blend, a Bordeaux-esque mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Grapes are hand-harvested, hand-sorted, and gravity-fed into small oak tanks where they undergo fermentation. The wine is aged for two years in 100% new oak and the team revisits each barrel every month, assessing the quality of the final blend. 

Mirroring the flawless nature of the vineyard, the cellar was built by architect, Howard Backen and UC David chemical engineer, Roger Boulton. To protect against the sun, extra thick walls were installed, providing excellent insulation and naturally cooling the cellar. Each 1-2 acre block from Sage Mountain Vineyard holds a dedicated space in the vineyard, which allows the team to individually asses and optimize the vine's growth. Throughout the entire process, the team ensures the wine only touches concrete or oak, protecting the purity of the wine. 

Continuum Estate's Rise to the Elite

For collectors and connoisseurs, securing a Pritchard Hill wine rivaling Continuum's quality for under $300 was nearly impossible before the Mondavi's arrival to the AVA. Since its debut vintage in 2005, Continuum red wines have consistently captivated critics, with 100-point scores becoming the norm for the estate. One of Continuum's top vintages is the 2016 bottle, with famed critic Lisa Perrotti-Brown providing exceptional reviews for the wine. 

"2016 Continuum is the estate's most impressive offering yet. Here we really see the next-generation Mondavi family using their wealth of winemaking history and experience to home in on a vision for this remarkable location and execute with impressive precision, plus a good measure of dramatic flair. Bravo!"

Additional stunners include the 2015 and 2018 vintages, marked 100 points by critics James Suckling and Antonio Galloni. Ultimately, every release from the Continuum Estate is bound to excite our taste buds and fit perfectly in your cellar. Choose from multiple vintages in our collection to add the right bottle to your collection.