Realm Cellars, dubbed "one of Napa's hottest wineries" by Antonio Galloni, and lauded by Robert Parker for “their remarkable ascent into the top tier of Napa Valley producers,” has been making waves for over two decades. With a remarkable 28 perfect scores from critics worldwide, their journey from humble beginnings to becoming a Napa Valley benchmark estate is nothing short of impressive. Over the course of two decades of relentless pursuit of excellence, Realm Cellars has secured its place as a benchmark estate in the heart of Napa Valley.
The Rise of Realm Cellars
Established in 2002 as a passion project by Juan Mercado and Wendell Laidley, Realm Cellars initially operated as a virtual winery. Armed with unwavering determination and a thirst for perfection, they rented space at various facilities and pooled all available resources to craft their first wines. Despite challenges and limitations associated with sharing production space, Mercado and Laidley forged valuable relationships in their early years. These relationships paved the way for sourcing fruit from coveted sites like Beckstoffer's heritage vineyards, including To Kalon and Dr. Crane, laying a solid foundation for their future success.
In 2011, they made a pivotal decision by bringing in the talented Benoit Touquette, who had relocated to Napa Valley in 2004 after graduating from the University of Bordeaux. He honed his craft under the mentorship of former Screaming Eagle winemaker, Andy Erickson, and established a deep bond with the revered French winemaking icon, Michel Rolland. It was Rolland who played matchmaker, introducing Benoit to Erickson. Benoit enlisted Rolland as Realm’s consultant for his expertise in blends, paving the way for a new era of prosperity.
Realm Wine Defies Expectations
Just two years after Touquette's arrival, the winery faced financial turbulence. Mercado and Laidley had already weathered controversy when their 2003 harvest was tragically destroyed in a warehouse fire. Undeterred, they called upon Scott Becker for help in avoiding bankruptcy. Becker, a US Air Force veteran and Harvard MBA, succumbed to the allure of wine during his personal travels, and his journey ultimately led him to become the savior of Realm Cellars. Becker's extensive experience garnered at prestigious establishments like Cakebread and Promontory, positioned him perfectly to rally investors and secure the winery's future.
One turning point in the Realm journey happened during a tasting event at Chateau Boswell, where Realm Cellars was crafting its wines at the time, Scott observed an anomaly in the 2009 The Bard. Concerned, he returned to the humble office space shared by the team and promptly reached out to Benoit. The subsequent investigation revealed that some bottles exhibited the unmistakable taint of brettanomyces, commonly known as "brett". With their commitment to quality at the forefront, Scott and Benoit faced a pivotal decision. Despite the financial implications – Realm Cellars chose to discard the entire batch bottle by bottle.
The challenge continued with the difficult 2011 Vintage. Robert Parker had given the Realm Portfolio of wines "lackluster" reviews and it was looking like the doors were closing for Realm Cellars. Scott said at that time, "They were telling me to fold. But I couldn’t do that to Benoit or the team. I doubted myself, I doubted the business, but I didn’t doubt them."
Then the 2012 Vintage. In October 2014, Robert Parker published the Review of the 2012's and Realm’s Dr. Crane Vineyard and The Absurd both received 100 points, with no label scoring below 96.
“The meaning of tasting those 2012 wines with Bob...” Becker said, “...we will never forget that, and we continue to wake up every day trying to live up to the opportunity he gave us.”
Realm Winery: Strategic Growth in Napa Valley
This pivotal moment arrived as Realm Cellars transitioned from a virtual winery to an esteemed estate with the acquisition of the historic Hartwell Winery. They began acquiring their own vineyards, gradually transitioning from exclusively using purchased fruit to a blend of estate and sourced grapes.
“The place wasn’t exactly what you’d call turn-key. And looking back, that makes sense for Realm. We’ve always thrived on challenge. On finding something with lots of potential and then working like crazy to bring out the best in it.” — Scott Becker
Another significant milestone came in 2018 when they signed a long-term lease agreement for Farella Vineyard, further expanding their vineyard holdings. In 2022 another opportunity emerged—a chance to acquire the Nine Suns Winery and the Houyi Vineyard on the esteemed Pritchard Hill. The addition of the Houyi Vineyard enriched their already impressive collection of legendary terroirs.
Realm Cellars Wines
“Realm. What calls into question your assumptions about this name and indeed Napa Valley are the wines. What’s inside these bottles is so disarmingly unassuming. These are wines that are recognizably honest to their Napa origins yet are laced with such drama and conflict, beauty and passion, sound and fury. They pull you in and make you question. They outright challenge your preconceptions about where they come from and the people that make them. And, ultimately, after you have been so challenged, summoned and enticed, they welcome you into their Realm.” — Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
Realm The Bard
Realm Cellars' The Bard is one of the estate's core offerings, embodying their commitment to exceptional Napa Valley winemaking. This second wine, a Bordeaux-style blend, showcases winemaker Benoit Touquette's skill in crafting complex, terroir-driven wines. Sourced from a combination of Realm's estate vineyards and premier partner sites, including the acclaimed Beckstoffer To Kalon and Dr. Crane vineyards, The Bard represents a harmonious expression of Napa Valley's diverse terroirs.
As a foundational wine in Realm's portfolio, The Bard has played a crucial role in the winery's ascent to prominence. It consistently garners high critical acclaim, contributing to Realm's impressive tally of perfect scores from renowned wine critics. This limited-production blend captures the essence of high-end Napa Valley Cabernet-based wines while maintaining a distinct identity that reflects Realm's innovative spirit.
The Bard exemplifies Realm Cellars' mastery of the art of blending, striking a balance between power and elegance that has become a hallmark of their winemaking style. As one of Napa Valley's highly sought-after wines, The Bard continues to reinforce Realm Cellars' position as a benchmark producer in California's premier wine region, offering collectors and enthusiasts a compelling taste of Realm's artistry and vision.
Realm Houyi
Realm Cellars crafted the inaugural Realm Houyi Cabernet Sauvignon in 2013 from the 22-acre Houyi Vineyard in Pritchard Hill. The site sits at an elevation of 1300 feet, located above the fog line and set on dense, volcanic soils. Originally planted to 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Houyi Vineyard now contains small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The resulting fruit is highly concentrated yet still displays Realm's signature elegance and finesse— a perfect balance between Napa's mountain terroir and Realm's winemaking.
The first decade of Realm Houyi vintages were produced with fruit sourced from the vineyard; however, in 2022, Realm Cellars purchased Nine Suns Winery and its Houyi Vineyard. David Abreu continues to manage the vineyard as the wine has transformed from pure Cabernet Sauvignon blends to Bordeaux-style, multi-variety blends. Only 2,500 cases are released each year, and the wine is consistently celebrated for its approachable tannins, complex palate, and dark berry bouquet.
Furthermore, the Realm Cellars team continues to honor Houyi Vineyard's roots, keeping the original site name, which was named after a fabled Chinese archer. The front label, however, has changed since the acquisition. Realm Houyi no longer features a black and white image of the vineyard's volcanic rocks, instead illustrating the cerebral art piece, "Air Water Earth" by the late Venezuelan artist Luchita Hurtado. The original art piece is a 10x10 painting that has been shown in exhibitions from renowned art museums in London, Los Angeles, and New York.
Hurtado created the painting as a representation of balance in the natural world, which Realm Winery felt perfectly exemplified the Houyi Cabernets. In 2019, she was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People at the ripe age of 98. Unfortunately, Hurtado passed away a year later, inspiring Realm to honor her on their bottles.
Realm Wine: From Virtual to Reality
Realm Cellars' journey to stardom was not without its share of challenges. However, their unwavering perseverance and commitment have propelled them to become one of Napa Valley's most acclaimed producers. In just over two decades, they have evolved from a start-up on a shoestring budget to one of Napa Valley’s finest, deserving of a cherished place in any wine collector's cellar. Their wines are crafted to age gracefully for decades, ensuring the rise of Realm Cellars is no fleeting phenomenon—it's a Napa Valley powerhouse that will continue to shine brightly for many years to come.
