Titus

Titus Vineyards is a family-owned 50-acre vineyard and winery located just north of St. Helena along the Silverado Trail near the eastern slopes of the valley. This vineyard, farmed by brothers (and 2nd generation owners) Eric and Phillip Titus, has been under cultivation for over 150 years. If land could talk, this vineyard would tell many tales of booms and busts, from the pioneering days of Charles Krug, who acquired this land when he married, through the struggles of prohibition, to the establishment of the Napa Valley as a world-class wine producer. The Titus family’s stewardship began in 1969, when Dr. Lee Titus, a radiologist practicing in Sonoma, purchased the blocks that currently make up the 40-acre Ranch Estate. This was a time (the years between the establishment of the Robert Mondavi winery and the infamous Judgement of Paris tasting) when vineyard land was still affordable to wine lovers of relatively modest means. As was common at mid-century, it was planted to such long-forgotten and forgettable varieties as Mondeuse, Burger, and Golden Chasselas. It didn’t take long for Dr. Lee to replant to the five classic Bordeaux varieties that originally sparked his interest in wine. He also purchased a 10-acre vineyard on nearby Ehler’s Lane. And for the next twenty years, Titus Vineyards fruit was in high demand by the likes of such top wineries as Charles Krug, Beaulieu, Cuvaison, and Pine Ridge. 

After growing up helping their dad work the land, Eric and Phillip at first pursued careers that took them away from the vineyards. But a bucolic corner of the Napa Valley can help make returning home to help the family an easy decision to make. Around the same time (the early nineties), they decided not only to build a winery but also to replant the vineyards to reflect advances made in rootstocks, clonal selection, vine trellising, irrigation, and sustainable farming since the 1960s. Today Eric (in charge of the winery and vineyards) and Phillip (director of winemaking) run a successful family business that encompasses not only fine wine but also estate-grown olive oil and a welcoming tasting room. The vineyards are mainly dedicated to the five classic Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec) as well as some Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Sauvignon Blanc. While the vineyards are planted on the valley floor, the soils at this eastern location feature excellent drainage: dusty clay, sand, and loam at the Ranch Estate and stony volcanic soils at Ehler’s Lane. At both locations, the vines experience stress, requiring them to spend energy sending roots deep into the soils and limiting the growth of high-quality fruit. 

Phillip Titus, Stephen Cruzan

USA

California