Perched high above the fog-draped valleys of Napa, Outpost Wines has been quietly crafting some of California's most coveted and captivating wines from Howell Mountain's lofty elevations. With a storied past dating back to the pre-prohibition era, the site was first planted in the 1860s and has since passed through the hands of several generations. Atop rugged slopes at 1,800 - 2,200 elevations, the vineyard's high altitude and volcanic soils imbue its grapes with an inimitable character that has earned the adoration of discerning Napa enthusiasts worldwide.

Outpost Wines: High-Elevation Wines of Howell Mountain

Today, acclaimed winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, best known for his work at Schrader Cellars, has been at the helm of Outpost for 20 years, ensuring the production of wines of the utmost quality. As his first consulting client, Outpost holds a special place in Brown's winemaking journey. The winery continues to explore the possibilities of high-altitude viticulture, producing small batches of unfined and unfiltered wines that authentically express the unique qualities of the terroir. As a result, Outpost Wines serves as a shining example of the remarkable caliber and character of mountain-grown grapes.

Outpost: Early History

While the history of the site reaches back to pre-prohibition times, with the first plantings dating back to the 1860s, the Outpost winery officially began in 1998 when Terry and Juli Pringle founded the property. After falling into disrepair during Prohibition, the vineyard was revived by Bob Lamborn in the mid-1970s and later expanded by the Pringles.

Outpost Winery: First Beginnings

In 2003, Kathy and Frank Dotzler acquired Outpost with the help of Ren Harris of Paradigm Winery and Jean Phillips of Screaming Eagle, land brokers at the time, ushering in a new era of meticulous viticultural and winemaking excellence. Under their stewardship, Outpost flourished, gaining renown for its outstanding Zinfandel, a historic variety of the region, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Grenache. The couple's passion for viticulture also led them to develop the nearby True Vineyard, planting it to Bordeaux varieties.

Outpost Winemaker: Thomas Rivers Brown

In the early 2000s, Turley Wine Cellars' Ehren Jordan recognized the quality of the fruit produced at the site and began sourcing grapes from the property. Napa Valley's acclaimed winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, best known for his work at Schrader Cellars, first became involved with Outpost as Jordan's assistant winemaker during this time. The following year, Brown launched his own consulting business and took on Outpost as his first client. He has been at the helm of Outpost for 20 years, ensuring the production of wines of the utmost quality.

Outpost Terroir & Appellation

Despite the challenges posed by the high-altitude terroir, Outpost's commitment to quality has yielded an impressive portfolio of wines that showcase the distinctive qualities of the Howell Mountain appellation, an AVA defined by its elevation of 1,400 feet and above. The winery continues to push the boundaries of high-altitude viticulture, crafting limited quantities of unfined and unfiltered wines that express the unique character of this rugged, volcanic terroir.

Outpost: New Era & Ownership

In 2018, Outpost embarked on a new chapter when AXA Millésimes, the wine division of French insurance company AXA, purchased the winery from the Dotzlers for $40 million. The sale included the brand, inventory, winery facility, 28 acres of vines, and 14 unplanted acres. Demonstrating their commitment to continuity and excellence, AXA Millésimes retained Thomas Rivers Brown, Outpost's winemaker of nearly 20 years, ensuring that his expertise will continue to guide the winery's offerings.

Outpost Wines: True Vineyard

Outpost's most acclaimed wines are sourced from the True Vineyard, a small 9-acre site located in the lofty reaches of Howell Mountain. From this vineyard, two exceptional bottlings are produced: a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and a Bordeaux blend called Immigrant. The estate's limited production, typically less than 3,000 cases per year, is a testament to the challenges and rewards of high-altitude viticulture.

Outpost Wine Quality

To ensure the highest quality, grapes are harvested late in the season to maximize their flavor potential and are processed with minimal manipulation. The resulting wines are unfined and unfiltered, allowing the unique character of each vintage to shine through. Outpost's commitment to quality extends to their sustainable farming practices, which include updated irrigation systems, wind machines for frost protection, and a comprehensive Carbon Farm Plan, all designed to optimize the long-term health and productivity of the vines.

Outpost Winery: Looking to the Future

As AXA Millésimes guides Outpost into the future, its position as a standard-bearer for the Howell Mountain appellation is poised to reach new heights. Outpost wines offer a compelling opportunity to experience the excellence of Napa Valley winemaking and the superior character of mountain-grown grapes. The combination of their dedication to crafting fine wines and the unique terroir of Howell Mountain ensures that Outpost will continue to be a sought-after gem in the world of fine wine

Outpost Wines: Vintages

2021 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard: Double 100-Point Score Wine

"Another exceptional wine from this vineyard on Howell Mountain, Outpost's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard...

True Vineyard, Dotzler's original property, is bottled separately, both as a straight Cabernet Sauvignon and as a co-fermented blend that includes Cabernet Franc and Merlot. According to TRB, the core of the Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard is always the first three blocks, each planted to different clonal selections. One is sourced from Ren Harris at Paradigm, the See clone. Another is sourced from Jean Phillips at Screaming Eagle, referred to by TRB as the P clone (thought to be clone 7 or Bosché). And a third, is sourced from Paul Frank at Gemstone, the Jenkins clone (said to be a suitcase clone from Château Lafite-Rothschild). TRB maintains that this clonal diversity is the basis for the True Vineyard's complexity. - Joe Czerwinski for The Wine Advocate, Jan 31, 2024

Outpost Winery Review

"True Vineyard was the last property that former Screaming Eagle owner Jean Philips sold in the valley as a real-estate broker, her day job before becoming a Napa cult Cabernet star. Along the way, Dotzler had also met and hired winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, with whom he now partners in their Mending Wall winery.

Using clonal selections from his friends, Dotzler planted True vineyard in 2002, after four years of dynamiting and ripping the hard, rocky soil to make it suitable for planting vines, as well as drilling a well for water. “If I knew then what I was getting into, things might not have worked out. Knock on wood we found water,” he says, tapping his head with a smile. 

As True came on line and the replanting at Outpost moved along, the winery initially established a track record for its intense, vivid Zinfandel bottling. But with the winds of Napa shifting steadily to Cabernet Sauvignon, Dotzler charted a course that tacked that way. True vineyard’s 9 acres of vines are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, along with some Franc and Merlot. Outpost’s 19 acres of vines still include a small portion of Zinfandel that has been kept (though replanted) to keep the site’s historical link; the rest has shifted to Cabernet Sauvignon." - James Molesworth from Wine Spectator, February 9, 2022, "Single-Vineyard Cabernets to Watch at Howell Mountain's Outpost, The Start Of True Vineyard"