It is a miraculous confluence of nature that makes Clos du Val's Hirondelle Estate. From a cool, sheltered valley greeted daily by coastal winds to soils formed by the erosion of volcanic palisades, we embrace these natural blessings to craft Bordeaux-style blended wines.
What is striking about Hirondelle is not just where it is in the Napa Valley, but where it is in the world. Chosen by founding winemaker Bernard Portet after a two year journey spanning four continents, this bit of earth is rooted in intention, vision, and belief.
“We want to achieve the best wine outside of Bordeaux. Go ‘round the world and find it.”
–Founder John Goelet’s instruction to Bernard Portet
The “old way” of farming is wise because it resembles nature. Slow and symbiotic; grazing converts cover crop to fertilizer and hooves aerate the soil. There is beauty in nature’s logic. We grow more than grapes. There’s a whole community of living things. We tend to sheep, nurture a landscape hospitable to pollinators, and sustain a thriving microbiome in the soil beneath our boots. We all belong to this community, coexisting in harmony.
Agriculture is at the heart of who we are, not just what we do. We are shepherds of nature, vigilant in our stewardship and invisible in our imprint. With each season we embody what is historically true and good about wine: a singular focus on place, pursued on a human scale, guided and guarded by family. New generations don’t just inherit land, they inherit a culture.
“In the early ‘80s, my grandfather, John Goelet, commissioned cartoonist Ronald Searle to create a series of illustrations capturing the quirks and charm of the wine world. John and Ronald had become close friends through their shared love of the arts and humor and wanted to bring joy and laughter to the world of wine. I remember fondly my childhood leafing through a series of books that documented these illustrations. Something I keep at my desk as a reminder that wine should never be taken too seriously and that humor will always liven the mood. We wanted to share this as a way of remembering my grandfather, and bring some joy and humor to our world of wine without compromising the focus and attention we bring to our craft.”
–Olav Goelet, Third-Generation Owner
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