History - MACDONALD

To-Kalon facing northwest with our property in the background – Spring, 1910

Early Settlers

There is a Native American phrase —Tu-la-halusi— meaning “beautiful land,” used to describe the upper Napa Valley and repeated by early settlers. Our story begins with the history of our property, whose first wines were branded TO-KALON, meaning “the most beautiful.” Our property was originally planted to vines in the early 1870’s by the grandson of Napa Valley pioneer George Yount. The Yount Family retained this as one of the final pieces of their Caymus Rancho, which originally had encompassed 12,000 acres in the heart of the Napa Valley.

To-Kalon vineyard crew grafting young vines poses for a picture – Spring, 1906

To-Kalon

In the pioneer days of Napa Valley winemaking, the famed TO-KALON wines, made from grapes sourced in part from our property, are thought to have garnered more awards than any other winery in the pre-Prohibition era. By the turn of the century the advent of phylloxera had decimated the original vineyards and the vines were removed and replanted to cherries. The expanding orchard and the surrounding acres would eventually become one of the largest cherry plantations in the United States.

Our property planted to cherries during prohibition, facing northwest – Fall, 1924

Prohibition

By 1917, steel tycoon D. P. Doak had purchased the property and begun construction on one of the most magnificent private residences in the Napa Valley. At a cost of over $200,000 it included extravagant cascading pools, marble fountains, and sunken gardens by landscape architect John McLaren, designer of Golden Gate Park. In 1927, the original residence was offered to President Calvin Coolidge as a summer White House. After falling into disrepair, the Doak Mansion was purchased by the Carmelite Order and converted into its present day use as an active monastery.

1940’s aerial photograph of the cherry orchard (Left side at the base of the mountains)

Our Family

In 1954, our family planted the first vines on the property since prohibition as the last of the cherry trees were being removed. For 60 years the grapes have been sold exclusively to Robert Mondavi and have been part of his Reserve and To-Kalon blends since their inception. Robert Mondavi used to refer to our family as “the best grape-growers in the Napa Valley” and, when he and our Great Uncle resurrected the property’s historic name, our family was included as the only private growers to be part of the Robert Mondavi To-Kalon Vineyard.

Our cherry barn and vineyard facing southwest towards the Mayacamas Mountains – 1970

Today

In 2010, for the first time in our family’s 60 year stewardship, and in over 140 years of grape-growing history on the property, we are proud to present our first release of MACDONALD.