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ELLMAN Estate Winery Opens Its Doors in Napa Valley, Bringing South African Roots to CA Wine Country

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Published
09/12/2025 by

ELLMAN, a family-owned winery with deep generational ties to South Africa, has officially completed construction and opened its doors in Napa Valley. Nestled along the historic Silverado Trail at the base of Atlas Peak, ELLMAN is poised to become one of the valley's most compelling new destinations for Cabernet Sauvignon and estate-driven wines.

The newly completed ELLMAN facility was designed to blend sophistication with a sense of home. The space features a state-of-the-art production facility alongside an open culinary kitchen and garden, where a rotation of high-end chefs create food pairings for select events. Inside, guests are welcomed by a warm residential feel, complete with a cozy fireplace, curated design elements imported from Bordeaux, and Andy Warhol works adorning the walls. The architecture features an indoor–outdoor flow, providing guests with a seamless connection to the vineyard landscape while enjoying art, food, music, and wine in harmony.

When the Ellman family first visited Napa nearly two decades ago, they were struck by the parallels to their native South Africa wine region of Stellenbosch — from the lush Mayacamas range to the rugged backdrop of the Vaca Mountains. That sense of familiarity and belonging inspired them to establish roots in Napa Valley, creating what has become both a family legacy project and a tribute to the region's iconic terroir.

The estate vineyard spans 25 acres in southeast Napa Valley just north of Coombsville and was planted in 1999 with a prized Cabernet Sauvignon clone. Set on an ancient riverbed of cobbles and rocky soils, the vines benefit from a unique combination of valley floor and hillside characteristics, producing wines of remarkable depth, structure, and elegance.

"Creating our own space in history within Napa Valley is both a privilege and a responsibility," said the Ellman family. "This vineyard represents not only our passion for wine but also our commitment to stewarding the land for future generations."

ELLMAN has partnered with acclaimed Winemaker Andy Erickson (whose resume includes Screaming Eagle, Staglin, Dalla Valle and Favia) and Vineyard Manager Domenick Bianco to bring this vision to life. Erickson and his team, Patrick Nyeholt and Ansel Risch, collaborate closely with the Ellman family to ensure each bottle is a pure expression of the estate's terroir.

Early reviews have already positioned ELLMAN as a name to watch:

"The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon The Estate is straight-up awesome and will stand up to anything in the vintage… If you see a bottle, buy it." – Jeb Dunnuck

"Ellman is going to be a fascinating winery to follow in the coming years." – Antonio Galloni

The winery's debut collection includes The Estate, a Cabernet Sauvignon, Jemma, a Proprietary Red Blend, and additional small-lot bottlings that showcase the diversity of the vineyard. With a focus on limited production, ELLMAN aims to craft wines of precision, longevity, and authenticity.

"Our philosophy is simple: the best wines are grown, not made," said Erickson. "Every season, every vintage leaves its mark, and our goal is to let the vineyard speak through the wine."

As third-generation stewards of a family business, the Ellman's see this new chapter in Napa as both a continuation of their heritage and an investment in the region's future.

ELLMAN Estate Winery is now open for private tastings by appointment. For more information, please visit ellmanwine.com or contact Evan Ellman, evan@ellmanwine.com.

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