The CourAvant team is dedicated to maintaining the highest level of stewardship in the vineyard and in the surrounding vegetable gardens, flower beds and orchards. We view the estate as its own ecosystem and believe strongly that protecting each component will produce a positive effect on all others.
Vineyard «
Situated on Zinfandel Lane in St. Helena, the CourAvant vineyard occupies a prime benchland site on the gently sloping alluvial fans at the base of the Mayacamas mountain range. Here, gravelly loam soils, excellent drainage, and moderated temperatures create ideal conditions for growing premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with depth, structure, and complexity. Planted in the early 1990s on 5C rootstock, the vineyard features classic Napa Valley selections of Merlot Clone #3 and Cabernet Sauvignon Clone #7. The vines are planted at 11 x 7 spacing and trained on quad cordons, a structure that promotes balanced growth, optimal sun exposure, and consistent fruit development. Today, these mature vines yield small, concentrated berries that reflect both the character and history of this site.
Gardens «
At the CourAvant Estate, we naturally embrace our treasured vineyards and world-class wine they produce. Yet the connection goes far beyond as we gain a great deal of satisfaction in caring for and harvesting the estate flower and vegetable gardens. The fruits of these labors grace the dinner table and simple floral arrangements add beauty to the day. And with the many mature olive trees on the estate property, an olive oil program is now in the planning stage.
Observatory «
The sight of a research-grade observatory on vineyard grounds anywhere in the world is a unique occurrence. And at CourAvant Estate, it pays homage to the historical relationship astronomy has had with agriculture throughout mankind. Inside the observatory’s towering structure, you will find a state of the art Planewave Instruments telescope system capable of deep space observation while viewing countless distant galaxies and nebula objects. We believe that observing targets millions of light years away is a reminder of the vastness of our universe and helps open our minds by bringing a new prospective to our place in time.
