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.
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.
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.
