When we became the owners of what would become Theorem Vineyards, we soon learned that the property housed one of the most significant collections of historical buildings in Napa Valley. The site had once been a working farm with livestock and multiple crops. It also was home to one of the oldest schoolhouses in Napa. Determined to honor the property’s historical significance we went to work. We restored the old Victorian home, the schoolhouse, and the Long Barn that once served as the farm’s chicken-coop. With the considerable expertise of the visionary architect Richard Beard, who immediately recognized the architectural significance of the buildings, we peeled back the layers of neglect. We restored and preserved the original character of the structures while bringing them up to modern standards. We saved what we could, and re-purposed every piece of redwood we found.

The vineyard was another puzzle. Originally planted in 1985, the vines had been stripped of most of their fruit by deer. As that first harvest approached in 2012, we briefly thought about tearing the vines out. But our consulting Winemaker, Thomas Rivers Brown, recognized the superb quality of the grapes. He convinced us to let him pick the scant 1.2 tons of Cabernet Sauvignon that remained. That fruit became our first vintage of Theorem Vineyards Voir Dire, our flagship Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, we have preserved this old block of Cabernet Sauvignon, and Voir Dire continues to be made from these remarkable old vines. The rest of the vineyard has been reconfigured, replanted, and maintained by famed Napa Vineyard Manager Josh Clark.