Our Story
Calla Lily Estate & Winery is the project of one of Napa's most revered winemakers, Cary Gott — a fourth-generation vintner who founded the winery with a small group of businessmen from Hong Kong, choosing a hillside vineyard in Pope Valley for this artisanal, low-production venture.
An elegant portfolio of wines is produced around the imagery of the calla lily — a flower of enormous beauty and refinement, the very qualities the winery's wines strive to express.
“Pope Valley is a hidden gem in Napa Valley. Situated on the eastern side of Howell Mountain at an elevation of over 800 feet, it is cooler than the Valley floor and produces small, intensely-flavored grapes with finely structured tannins and complex aromatics.”
Cary Gott, Chief Winemaker
The Vineyard
Twelve acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, five of Petite Sirah, and one acre each of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot — first planted in 1995, including a small plot of pre-phylloxera vines, divided into micro-lots for optimal monitoring and quality control. The gently contoured slopes shelter the vines from winter frost and summer heat, and the vines grow in the well-drained soils of the Bressa-Dibble complex, fine-grained sandstone and shale. Pope Valley's balanced weather and abundance of sunlight bring the grapes to consistent, optimal ripeness, while the day-night temperature variation ensures sufficient acidity and adds complexity to the flavors.
Our Philosophy
The winemaking begins in the hillside vineyard with extensive hands-on work. At harvest we make several passes, picking and sorting for ideal ripeness. We cold-soak the berries before fermentation for a gentler extraction of tannin and flavor, and select yeasts to maximize the nuance of each year's harvest — wines as distinctive and elegant as possible, a deliciously balanced taste of our corner of the Napa Valley.
The People
Chief Winemaker
A fourth-generation winemaker with over 40 years of experience crafting world-class wines in the Napa Valley. Cary has created and managed multiple ultra-premium vineyards; he was Senior Vice President of Seagram Classics, President of Sterling Vineyards, and Winemaster of Mumm Napa Valley.
Assistant Winemaker
Kelly works closely with Cary to craft the Calla Lily wines. With more than two decades of vineyard and winemaking experience across a dozen leading wine brands, she brings passion and a drive for excellence to each vintage.
Senior Cellar Master
Emilio brings a wealth of experience managing prestigious winery operations of every size, with substantial vineyard experience that makes him crucial whenever viticultural decisions are made.
Vineyard Manager
Alejandro has tended the vineyard since 1998, keeping it in exemplary condition and ensuring the grapes grow in optimal conditions year after year.
