ST. HELENA: Somerston Estate, the historic 1,682-acre private estate tucked into Napa Valley's eastern Vaca Mountains, has announced the next chapter of its flagship wines: a new collection of two limited-production bottlings drawn from its mountain vineyards above St. Helena, the estate said on October 6.

The collection debuts with the 2023 Somerston Red, priced at $245 with 190 cases produced and released on October 6, followed by the 2025 Somerston White at $75 with 200 cases produced, arriving in late fall 2026. Each release is a proprietary blend selected from top estate blocks rather than a fixed formula. At the center of the new identity is the astrolabe, one of the world's earliest navigational instruments, rendered in gold embossing on the bottles, a mark the estate says reflects its ethos of exploring deeply and navigating with intention.

The 2023 Somerston Red, the debut release of the estate's new flagship collection, wears the gold-embossed astrolabe that anchors Somerston's refreshed identity.
The 2023 Somerston Red, the debut release of the estate's new flagship collection, wears the gold-embossed astrolabe that anchors Somerston's refreshed identity. Courtesy of Somerston Estate

The estate is planted to 230 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards ranging from 850 to 1,615 feet in elevation. The variety of soil types, sun exposures, and microclimates creates distinct growing environments across the property, and individual blocks are farmed, harvested, and vinified according to their particular conditions.

Wines that could only come from this place.

The winemaker

Leading the new chapter is Cody Hurd, the estate's director of winemaking, whose understanding of the property was built over more than 15 years at Somerston. Hurd joined the estate in 2010 and worked across nearly every aspect of its winemaking operations, from cellar master to head winemaker. "The goal is not simply to make exceptional wines, but to create wines that could only come from this place," Hurd said.

Beyond the bottle

Somerston is also introducing a culinary program led by estate chef Cameron Bouldin, built around Napa Valley's seasonal ingredients and pairings meant to connect guests to the estate's mountain landscape. The 2023 Somerston Red is available directly through the estate, and private estate experiences are available by reservation.

The astrolabe, one of the world's earliest navigational instruments, is embossed in gold on the bottles of the new flagship collection.
The astrolabe, one of the world's earliest navigational instruments, is embossed in gold on the bottles of the new flagship collection. Courtesy of Somerston Estate
Harvest on the estate, where individual vineyard blocks are farmed, picked, and vinified separately before the winemaking team narrows the selection down to two wines.
Harvest on the estate, where individual vineyard blocks are farmed, picked, and vinified separately before the winemaking team narrows the selection down to two wines. Courtesy of Somerston Estate