Three hundred-acre estates are hard to come by in Napa Valley, so when one comes on the market, you might think that finding a new steward comes down to the highest bid. But when Kelly Fleming decided to sell her property and winery, she opted for the neighbor who would agree to keep it in one piece. Fleming announced Aug. 16 that she had sealed an agreement with Hundred Acre Wines owner Jayson Woodbridge.
“With Jayson, the estate stays in one piece,” Fleming told Wine Spectator, noting that was an essential piece of the agreement. “The tiny footprint that’s been so important to me could go away if I’d sold the house and winery separately. This way, the property stays quieter and more natural."
The deal includes a massive 286-acre estate, of which just 12 acres are planted to vines (primarily Cabernet Sauvignon), and a 5,000-square-foot winery with aging caves and a separate residence. Fleming will retain the brand and its inventory, save for the 2022 and 2023 vintages in barrels. Total annual production is 1,000 cases. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Woodbridge Has Been Expanding
“I’ve watched the Fleming vineyard for a long time. I always thought it would be the perfect fit for Hundred Acre,” said Woodbridge.
Fleming’s property strategically butts up against Woodbridge’s Hundred Acre “Few and Far Between” estate, which includes five acres of vines amid 115 total acres. Combined, Woodbridge now owns approximately 400 contiguous acres.
The former Fleming vines will be incorporated into the Hundred Acre wine program, and Woodbridge says the residence and cave are a bonus. “Kelly’s caves will give Hundred Acre more room for fermentation as we grow. The acquisition also allows us to have guests in a limited capacity, something we don’t have available at ‘Few and Far Between,” he said.
Woodbridge has been actively pursuing opportunities in the valley in recent years. In July, he acquired Madrigal Winery in Calistoga, including eight acres of vines; in 2022, he acquired an 18-acre vineyard along Larkmead Lane. Two years earlier, he also purchased the David Fulton Ranch in St. Helena, which has become the home base for his new label, Fortunate Son.
Fleming: Napa Valley Has Grown Too Challenging
As for Fleming, who founded the winery in 1998, she said her decision to sell partly came down to politics. “After 26 years, I, frankly, was worn down by struggling with Napa County and its regulations, seeing the very long-term impact of the Glass Fire on the property and also, in general terms, the climate in the valley, with no support for small family wineries,” she said.
Both Fleming and Woodbridge’s properties were significantly damaged in the 2020 wildfires. Woodbridge is currently locked in a legal battle with the county over the best uses for his land.
While the brand will live on, with Fleming selling through current and library wines, she said she doesn’t plan to continue to reside in Napa and will split time between Texas and California. “I will be looking for special vineyards to continue making Cabernet,” she said.
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