Signorello Estate is a landmark along Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail. Co-founded by father-son duo Ray Signorello Jr. and Ray Signorello Sr., who purchased its 100 acres in 1977, the estate later became home to vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petite Verdot and Chardonnay. After spending the first few years of operation solely as grape growers, the Signorello family realized the winemaking potential of their acreage and began producing estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay under the Signorello name.
Ray Signorello, Jr. has since left no stone unturned, no philosophy unexplored, no ancient or modern viticulture and winemaking idea untried in his decades-long quest to produce the perfect Napa Valley Cabernet and beyond.
And while that may have been Signorello’s intended legacy, the estate – and his imprint in Napa Valley’s wine history – was forever changed on the night of October 8th, 2017, when the longstanding winery became the first to be completely destroyed by the Atlas wildfire that tore through Napa’s eastern hillsides.
Over the next six years, owner Ray Signorello Jr. took it upon himself to not only rebuild, but to create the most efficient, eco-ready winery possible. Following six long years of planning and construction, the shining new triumph that is Signorello Estate re-opened for guests in 2024 – 100% off-the-grid, fully solar-powered, and built into a hillside with the highest level of futureproofing against climate change and fire challenges.
If needed, the caves can be completely sealed off in the event of fire, and in that event, the building would stay smoke-free.
In addition to the 8,304-square-foot state-of-the-art and fire-protected winery, Signorello Estate is complete with a 11,431-square-foot fully-insulated, waterproof underground cave – the very first of its kind – that serves production, storage, and hospitality needs in both practical and luxurious terms, with well-appointed areas set aside for reserve tastings.
Ray Signorello Jr. prioritized sustainability and futureproofing when building this new winery, with the Taylor Lombardo group, a prominent wine country architecture firm, executing his vision for modern, ergonomic winemaking protocols. The winery now includes mechanical systems designed for energy efficiency and sustainability, separate red and white wine fermentation areas, multi-purpose rooms, backup systems in the event of power shutdowns, and HACC controls for microbial sanitation.
Signorello Jr. calls his new estate “the winery model for the future.” And while he continues to press on, chasing the dream of crafting a perfect Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, his legacy is also now one of fortitude. Adapting to climate change and the evolving changes of Napa Valley ensures his now multi-generation winery – not only Napa Cabernet – remains timeless.
Signorello Estate received the regional Great Wine Capitals ‘Best of Wine Tourism’ Award in 2025 for its contribution to Napa Valley’s architecture and landscapes. Signorello is one of seven Napa Valley businesses recognized for its innovation and excellence in local wine tourism. For more information on this Great Wine Capital recognized property, visit signorelloestate.com.
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