Charles Krug Winery holds a distinction no other Napa Valley producer can claim: it is the oldest winery in the valley, established in 1861 by Charles Krug, the Prussian immigrant who is widely credited as the father of Napa Valley winemaking. Krug transformed 540 acres of prime land into the valley’s first winery and opened California’s first public tasting room on the same property. In 1943, the Mondavi family purchased the winery, and five generations later they continue to steward this iconic place with the same commitment to quality and innovation that Charles Krug himself brought to the valley more than 160 years ago.

The Father of Napa Valley Winemaking

Charles Krug arrived in Napa Valley as an ambitious Prussian immigrant with a vision for what California wine could become. In 1861, he established the first winery in the Napa Valley on 540 acres of land that came to him through his marriage to Carolina Bale. The ambition was extraordinary for its era: Krug not only made wine but created the infrastructure of a wine culture by opening California’s first public tasting room, an innovation that gave birth to the concept of winery hospitality as we know it today.

Krug’s legacy extended far beyond his own production. He mentored other Napa Valley pioneers and set standards for viticulture and winemaking that influenced the entire region. By the time of his death, the Napa Valley wine industry he had done more than anyone to create was establishing itself as a serious wine region. His name on the winery remains, more than 160 years later, the most fitting tribute to his contribution.

Charles Krug founded the first winery in Napa Valley in 1861 and opened California’s first public tasting room on the same estate. The Mondavi family has carried that legacy forward for more than 80 years, through five generations of stewardship.

The Mondavi Family: Five Generations of Stewardship

In 1943, Cesare and Rosa Mondavi purchased the historic Charles Krug estate along with their sons Peter and Robert. The acquisition was the beginning of one of the most consequential chapters in American wine history. The Mondavi family had come from Italy to America, and at Charles Krug they would begin a journey that would eventually reshape how the world thought about California wine.

The family’s sons, Peter and Robert Mondavi, would both go on to define the Napa Valley wine industry, Robert through his own eponymous winery and Peter through his long stewardship of Charles Krug. Today, five generations of the Mondavi family remain committed to the estate and to the founding principles of quality, innovation, and respect for the land. The olive-tree-lined driveway, the historic Redwood Cellar, and the vineyards of St. Helena continue to produce wines that honor the extraordinary history of the place.

The Wines: Heritage and Limited Release

Charles Krug produces wines across two primary tiers. The Heritage Selection wines offer Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay from estate and valley sources, representing the winery’s commitment to accessible, food-friendly expressions of the region. The Limited Release wines go deeper into site-specific terroir, with single-vineyard bottlings from Cold Springs and Yountville vineyards that showcase the range of Napa Valley Cabernet across its sub-AVAs.

Napa Valley Cabernet from Charles Krug, with its dark fruit, structured tannins, and valley-floor richness, pairs beautifully with the kinds of generous, savory dishes the Mondavi family would have brought to the table: slow-roasted lamb, braised beef, aged hard cheeses, or a simple plate of charcuterie. The tannin-protein interaction that makes great Napa Cab the ideal companion for red meat applies perfectly to these wines. Explore more about Napa Valley wine and what makes St. Helena such a distinguished address for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Visiting the Historic Redwood Cellar

The Charles Krug tasting room is located inside the historic Redwood Cellar, one of the most storied tasting spaces in all of Napa Valley. Guests follow the olive-tree-lined driveway to the estate and enter a building that has welcomed wine visitors since Charles Krug himself opened California’s first public tasting room here.

The estate offers a range of tasting experiences that reflect the breadth of the portfolio, from the Heritage Selection wines to the Limited Release single-vineyard bottlings. Private events and special dinners are also available on the estate grounds. For visitors seeking a connection to the deep roots of Napa Valley wine culture, Charles Krug is as close to the source as it gets in a region that now spans hundreds of wineries and more than 150 years of continuous production.

Charles Krug Winery: frequently asked questions