I didn’t know Donn, at least
not personally. We had never met. He lived in Napa, and I in Santa Barbara. He
started a winery and I started wine writing. My most recent mention of
Chappellet wines was May 13th, in a Tweet about the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon,
which hit over 1,000 impressions. Donn Chappellet passed away on May 22nd at
age 84 – too young by my estimation.
I have included Chappellet
wines in a variety of articles; for The Hollywood Reporter, IntoWine.com, and
most recently for Planet Experts about wineries that support earth-friendly
practices writing, “In Napa, Chappellet Vineyard began in the early 1980s (long
before the term ‘sustainable’ was even used), to plant cover crops for soil
conservation and erosion prevention. In 2012, their 102-acre vineyard earned
its organic certification from the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF).
Chappellet has a 20,000-square-foot solar photovoltaic system that generates
100% of the winery’s energy needs. They also installed a state-of-the-art water
processing system that allows the winery to return nearly 100% of their
processed water (about one million gallons each year) to the vineyard for
irrigation.”
I included Donn in my IntoWine.com’s Second Annual “Top 100 MostInfluential People in the U.S. Wine Industry,” listing him as #94, writing,
“Chappellet was the first winery to pioneer high-elevation vineyard planting,
establishing mountain-grown Cabernets as some of California’s most coveted
wines. The winery has also served as an incubator for some of California’s
legendary winemaking talents, including Phil Togni, Joe Cafaro, Tony Soter,
Helen Turley, Mia Klein, Cathy Corison and current winemaker Phillip
Corallo-Titus. Chappellet has been lauded by every major wine magazine.”
“Dad was the kindest, most thoughtful person,” son Cyril
Chappellet said in a press release. “He was our rock, our mentor, and an
inspiration, not just to our entire family, but to so many others as well. He
was also humble beyond belief. Despite everything he accomplished, he never
took the credit. He always preferred to give others the stage. Along with
my mom, my dad created the foundation that our family has been building on for
the past 50 years. He believed that the best was still yet to come for
Chappellet. Now it is our turn to honor that dream, and his wonderful legacy.”
And what better words can be said of someone’s passing – the idea
that the best is still out there, perhaps just beyond reach, but likely within
reach of another generations. If you haven’t had any of Chappellet wines, do
try one, from their Chennin Blanc, or Malbec, Petite Sirah or Chardonnay to the
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($60), and raise a glass to a man you never met, one
who made the world better in a number of ways you never knew about – something
we can all strive for. Godspeed Donn.
In
lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider donating in the name of Donn
Chappellet to the Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County or to the St.
Helena Hospital Foundation.
Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County
PO Box 2571 Napa, CA 94558
St. Helena Hospital Foundation
10 Woodland Road
St. Helena, CA 94574
