Just a few blocks from Madrona Ranch, is Cappella Vineyard, in St. Helena. This 6-acre site has become famous for its well-drained alluvial soils and ideal sun exposure. It consistently produces powerful, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon with dense fruit, refined tannins, and layered complexity and this is the best example of this vineyard owned by David Abreu.

Cappella is one of the oldest vineyard sites in St. Helena. Six acres that sit alongside a Catholic cemetery on the west side of town, it was first planted in 1869. In the 1980s the church asked David to tear out the old vines, then he watched as the land lay fallow for close to two decades. When he finally got the chance to replant, he jumped. He had tasted fruit from Cappella in the 70s and knew what kind of wine it could make. But that first replant was ill-fated thanks to diseased rootstock, and once again he was ripping out vines. “It took us six years before we had a crop. We could have ignored it, pulled the vines out one by one as they collapsed. But then we'd have all these different ripening patterns, which would impact consistency. It was an easy decision.”