Colgin Story - Colgin Journey

Inspired by History, Forging the Future

For nearly three decades, Colgin Cellars has been dedicated to enriching and sustaining the hallowed history of Napa Valley wine production. Our goal has been to craft elegant and profound wines that inspire memories.

Since 1992, Colgin Cellars navigates the exciting future of Napa Valley wine with the same focus, passion, and reverence that guided our first thirty years.

Colgin Cellars produces exquisitely crafted red wines that magnify the inherent beauty and complexity of our distinct hillsides focusing on selectivity, with the utmost care put into precision farming, attentive sorting, and meticulous blending.

Credit, James Altman, for last photo.

1988: Ann Colgin attends Napa Valley Wine Auction and falls in love with the Napa Valley

1992: Fruit is sourced from the Herb Lamb vineyard to craft the first wine

1995: The first vintage of Colgin Cellars, 1992 “Herb Lamb” is released

1996: Colgin purchases a historic vineyard site originally planted in 1861, replanted in 1881, which was later removed in the early 1900s

1997: 3.5 of the original acreage at the historic property is replanted and the site is named Tychson Hill, in honor of Josephine Tychson who owned and farmed the property in the 1880s

1998: Colgin purchases a 125-acre parcel overlooking Lake Hennessey and begins planting a 20-acre vineyard in addition to building the winery facility

1999: The first vintage of “Cariad” is produced

2000: Ann Colgin marries Joe Wender on 09/09 at the newly named IX Estate

2000: The first vintage of “Tychson Hill” is produced

2000: Vines are planted at IX Estate, including 4 acres planted to Syrah

2002: The first vintage of “IX Estate” and “IX Estate” Syrah is produced

2005: Colgin is named “One of the Fifty Greatest Wine Estates in the World” by Robert M. Parker, Jr.

2007: The uppermost parcel of Josephine Tychson’s holdings are added to Tychson Hill

2014: The final piece of Josephine Tychson’s original land grant is added to the southern end of Tychson Hill

2016: Colgin Cellars celebrates its 25th vintage

2017: Colgin Cellars becomes a strategic partner with LVMH and Bernard Arnault, and a member of Vins d’Exception alongside Château Cheval Blanc, Château d’Yquem, and Domaine du Clos des Lambrays

2021: Colgin Cellars celebrates thirty years crafting wines from Napa’s distinct hillsides

2022: A new parcel of IX Estate is planted

Ann Colgin, Founder & Chairwoman

Joe Wender, CEO

Allison Tauziet, Director of Winemaking

Neil Bernardi, COO

In 2017, we agreed to the exciting opportunity to become a strategic partner of the LVMH group. The only American wine label to be part of their Vins d’Exception Group, Colgin Cellars is included with Château Cheval Blanc, Château d’Yquem, and Domaine du Clos des Lambrays. We are honored to be partnered alongside these historic properties as we work to produce incredible wine from some of the most exciting wine regions in the world.