A Century on Mount Veeder: The Brandlin Estate Vineyard Turns 100

Historic Napa Valley vineyard honors the Brandlin family legacy, a century of mountain winegrowing, and the old-vine Zinfandel at its heart.

NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — September 2, 2026 — High on the rugged slopes of Mount Veeder, the Brandlin Estate Vineyard is marking 100 years of winegrowing in 2026. First planted by Henry Brandlin in 1926, the historic site has grown from a remote family homestead into a 49-acre mountain vineyard recognized for Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux varieties, Sauvignon Blanc, and some of Napa Valley’s most treasured old-vine Zinfandel.

The Brandlin family first settled on Mount Veeder in the 1870s, establishing a homestead high above the Napa Valley floor. Among the mountain’s early pioneers, they cultivated orchard fruit, operated the local grain store, and ran the Mount Veeder stagecoach, connecting the isolated mountain community with the valley below.

Nearly 50 years later, during Prohibition, Henry Brandlin added winegrowing to the family’s many endeavors. He planted a block of head-trained, dry-farmed Zinfandel on the estate’s steep, rocky slopes, laying the foundation for the vineyard that bears the family’s name today. The family sold some of the grapes for “sacramental” wine while reserving select fruit to make small quantities of wine for their own enjoyment.

The original vines proved exceptionally well suited to Mount Veeder. Their roots reached deep into the site’s well-drained, decomposed granite soils, allowing them to endure decades of changing seasons while producing small yields of concentrated, distinctive fruit. Today, approximately 10 acres of the historic block remain, still head-trained and dry-farmed as they enter their second century.

“In wine, every generation is only a snapshot in time,” says Daniel Zepponi, President and CEO of Two Estates Wine Collective, which includes Brandlin Estate and Cuvaison. “The Brandlin family had the foresight to plant this vineyard on Mount Veeder 100 years ago, and we have the privilege and responsibility of caring for what they began. Preserving the Brandlin name, protecting these remarkable old vines, and preparing the entire vineyard for its next century are all part of honoring the people who came before us.”

In 1998, Henry’s son Chester Brandlin entrusted the family property and its winegrowing legacy to the Schmidheiny family, longtime owners of Cuvaison. Chester continued to live at the estate for many years, while its new stewards preserved the original Zinfandel and expanded the vineyard to realize the site’s potential for mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties.

Today, the Brandlin Estate Vineyard includes 49 acres of vines planted across a ridgeline rising from approximately 900 to 1,250 feet. Along with its historic Zinfandel, the estate features 12 distinctive blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as smaller plantings of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Steep grades, elevations above the fog line, cooling influences from San Pablo Bay, and Mount Veeder’s long growing season yield wines of concentration, freshness, structure, and distinctive mountain character.

The estate team combines respect for the vineyard’s history with contemporary viticultural knowledge. Soil and plant analysis, block-by-block farming, extensive handwork, and sustainable practices help support the health of the old vines while guiding the continued evolution of the full estate. The Brandlin Estate Vineyard is California Certified Sustainable and also holds Fish Friendly Farming certification.

“Working with a vineyard that has been cultivated for a century is both humbling and inspiring,” says Brandlin Estate Winemaker Rebecca Peterson. “The old Zinfandel vines are a living connection to the Brandlin family and the history of Mount Veeder, but they are also part of a dynamic vineyard that continues to evolve. Our responsibility is to listen to the land, care for it with everything we know today, and make wines that preserve the character, resilience, and beauty of this extraordinary place.”

Peterson works alongside Director of Winemaking Steve Rogstad to craft Brandlin Estate’s small portfolio of estate-grown wines. Their vineyard-driven approach includes numerous small-lot fermentations designed to preserve the character of the estate’s individual blocks while balancing Mount Veeder’s natural power with freshness, elegance, and age-worthy structure.

Anniversary experiences and stories will be announced throughout the year. The celebration will also continue with a special commemorative bottling from the 2026 centennial vintage, with further details to come.

About Brandlin Estate

Brandlin Estate is dedicated to crafting exceptional estate-grown mountain wines from its historic vineyard high on the slopes of Napa Valley’s renowned Mount Veeder. First planted in 1926, the 49-acre estate vineyard is devoted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties, along with historic old-vine Zinfandel. Crafted by Winemaker Rebecca Peterson and Director of Winemaking Steve Rogstad, Brandlin Estate’s wines are recognized for their structure, intensity, elegance, and distinctive sense of place. For more information, please visit brandlinestate.com.