Ehlers Estate is a unique, heritage-rich winery perched just north of St. Helena in Napa Valley. Its stone barn, built in 1886 by German immigrant Bernard Ehlers—and still the heart of the estate—anchors a 42‑acre property renowned for organically and biodynamically farmed Bordeaux varietals.

The estate’s lineage spans pre-Prohibition roots, survival through bootlegging in the mid-20th century, and rejuvenation in the late 1990s when French philanthropists Jean and Sylviane Leducq acquired the property. They established the Leducq Charitable Trust in 1996, using Ehlers’ proceeds to fund international cardiovascular research. Their vision included replanting vineyards, assembling a contiguous estate, and crafting classic Bordeaux-style wines marked by balance and restraint.

Today, every bottle—from the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon and the premium “1886” blend to the elegant Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé—is estate-grown from organically farmed vineyards certified by CCOF and biodynamically managed. The estate features multiple clones and soil types across five main blocks and 28 sub-blocks, enabling meticulous terroir expression and block-specific fermentation.

In August 2023, Ehlers Estate welcomed Head Winemaker Adam Casto, who brings global winemaking expertise—spanning New Zealand, Chile, Australia, and France—and 11 years with Philippe Melka at DANA and Gandona Estates. Named to Wine Enthusiast’s 2024 “Future 40 Tastemakers” list, Casto emphasizes terroir-driven, site-specific wines and leads a forward-looking vineyard replanting and reinvestment strategy. Under his direction, Ehlers is exploring innovative blends (e.g., Sylviane Estate Blanc and upcoming “Perdrix”), non-varietal labeling, and climate-adaptive viticulture, all while preserving the estate’s elegant structure and historic character.

Operated under the Leducq Foundation model, Ehlers Estate is the only non-profit winery in Napa Valley, channeling all wine sales and tasting fees into cardiovascular research and making each visit both a sensory and philanthropic experience.

This distinctive fusion of 19th-century legacy, philanthropic purpose, organic farming, and forward-thinking winemaking positions Ehlers Estate as a winery of both historical depth and contemporary vision.