Trefethen Family Vineyards
One Family. One Estate. One Passion.
"To make great wine, you have to have great grapes." For over forty years the Trefethen family has adhered to this simple adage. Enhanced with their love, expertise, dedication and magical property you get more than just great wine.
In 1968, Gene and Catherine Trefethen bought a “magnificent, but run-down” vineyard estate in southern Napa Valley. With son John and his wife Janet at the helm, the the family brought the winery back to its original grandeur and transformed the 19th century property into a model winemaking estate. Now three generations of Trefethens have lavished extraordinary care upon their land and their craft.
The fruits of this dedication to purity? Two sustainably farmed vineyards that have produced a perennial array of award-winning wines and world-class Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, Cabernets, Merlots, Rieslings and more. To the family’s knowledge, Trefethen is the only American winery that for over four decades has never had to buy an outside grape to make its wines. While there’s little doubt that the Trefethens were fortunate to invest in Napa before the American wine boom that followed, one might equally argue that Napa Valley’s reputation has prospered tremendously from the Trefethens’ inspiration and impact. In 1988 the winery was recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
The location of the Trefethen Vineyards is a unique blessing, providing multiple terroirs, resulting in a proliferation of diverse grapes. Nestled between the towns of Napa and Yountville, the Oak Knoll District is a rare viticulture region, benefiting from both the warmth of the valley above and the marine influence of the Bay waterways below. Exhibiting keen appreciation for the delicate abundance of natural resources is second nature to the family and sets the estate apart.
The Trefethen story is not just about winemaking. Katie’s love of horticulture has made the garden a beautiful and restful spot. Work hard, play hard is the motto of the next generation with John racing cars and Janet competing in rodeo cuttings respectively. Loren and Hailey grew up loving life, stomping in grapes, riding tractors and romping with the horses and dogs. No wonder they have in turn joined the effort to nurture the vineyards and share their love of winemaking. Last but not least, daily visitors to the winery are greeted by two Golden Retrievers with tails wagging vigorously and miraculously missing the rows of wineglasses in the tasting room.
The Double T name is in part a nod to these pairings of family members who have helped keep the Trefethen Vineyard healthy and thriving, introducing ecologically responsible practices across every aspect of their business. Double T is a reference as well to certain images on the property that dreamily repeat, specifically the quadrilateral cordon trellis, commonly known as “Double T” that support the vines. When it comes to wines though, Double T is a gift from Trefethen Vineyards to a new generation of wine lovers.
Try the new Double T Chardonnay now
