About us

Chateau Montelena is one of the icons of Californian winemaking. Its history dates back to 1882, when Alfred Tubbs, a businessman from San Francisco, founded his winery and built a castle in the French Gothic style.

After years of ups and downs, including a period of prohibition, the winery acquired its current name, Chateau Montelena, in 1940. Its unique atmosphere today is complemented by Chinese gardens with Jade Pond, created by the owners in the 1950s. In the early 1970s, the winery was purchased by Jim Barrett, and the Barrett family continues to manage the vineyards to this day.

The turning point came in 1976 at the famous Paris wine tasting, where Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena unexpectedly beat the best French wines. This triumph forever changed the perception of Napa Valley and placed Chateau Montelena among the world's wine elite.

Today, Jim's son Bo Barrett, who has been involved with the winery since its inception in 1972, continues this vision. Together with head winemaker Matt Crafton and sales director Jock Busser, they form a team that strives to create wines that honor terroir, tradition, and timelessness.

The philosophy of Chateau Montelena is to create wines that transcend trends and ratings, telling the unique story of this exceptional winery.

The selection of Chateau Montelena wines is curated by Californian Wines, a specialist in premium wines from California. The company works directly with wineries and focuses on a carefully selected portfolio with an emphasis on quality, terroir, and authenticity.

Chateau Montelena is one of the wineries that naturally belongs to this portfolio, thanks to its history, its approach to winemaking, and its position within Napa Valley.