Owner

Jean-Charles Boisset

Winemaker

Thane Knutson. Previously worked at Cakebread and Hess before joining the team at 1881 Napa.

Appellation

Napa Valley

Distribution Area

New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel

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About 1881 Napa

The cherished Napa Valley landscape is planted to 47,000 acres of wine grapes and segmented into 16 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), each lauded for their unique and diverse terroir. Ranging from cool, coastal influences to warmer temperatures, mountainous terrain to valley floor, clay soil to volcanic rock, the Napa Valley AVAs are truly remarkable.

1881 Napa was created in one of Napa Valley’s oldest historical Victorian homes with a mission to celebrate the origins of America’s premier winemaking region and the pioneers that founded it. The wines of 1881 Napa honor the rich history, legacy and heritage of this world-famous winegrowing region.

The history of 1881 Napa is tied inextricably to that of its neighbor, Oakville Grocery. At the gateway to the Napa Valley stands a landmark historical Victorian home and the oldest continuously operating grocery store in California, founded in 1881. This beloved general store served the visionary pioneers who first planted grapes in the valley.

The Oakville Grocery building still stands in its original location, on Highway 29, one of two main roads that run north to south through Napa Valley. Immediately north of the store is the large elegant two-story home now known as 1881 Napa. The home changed hands over the years from wheat farmers to store owners and was purchased by Jean-Charles Boisset in 2018.

When Jean-Charles purchased the Victorian home, he turned it into an interactive museum and wine tasting room. He named it 1881, the year when Oakville Grocery’s roots first took hold as a mainstay in Napa Valley. It now presents the appellations of Napa Valley to provide a comprehensive discovery of its diversity, abundance, world-renowned terroir and deep history.

Jean-Charles Boisset is a native of Burgundy, France. His father was a vintner, and Jean-Charles continued the legacy by bringing his passion for wine to Napa Valley. He expanded upon his family’s winery portfolio by creating the Boisset Collection which includes wineries from both France and California. Well known in the Napa Valley, Jean-Charles is an energetic part of the community, welcoming tourists and locals alike to celebrate the region through his wines.