PHILOSPHY
DANA Estates pursues the purest expression of place. With each bottling, we highlight a distinctive single-vineyard site at its best — blending the finest lots from the site to achieve a precise and balanced expression. Our terroir-driven wines showcase the magnificent diversity of Napa Valley, from rocky, rugged mountains to ancient riverbeds on the valley floor.
In Sanskrit, "dana" means the spirit of generosity, and DANA winemakers Chris Cooney and Philippe Melka honor the generosity of nature through uncompromising quality standards and minimalist intervention. The dozen lotuses on the DANA label represent the months of the grapevine's lifecycle, as well as the 12 symbolic animals in the Lunar Zodiac tradition.
The lotus itself symbolizes three key elements of DANA's story: adversity, as we strive to farm in harmony with nature; rebirth, as we revitalize an historic ghost winery with contemporary hospitality; and purity — the ultimate goal for DANA wines.
WINEMAKING
The Precision of Craft
DANA’s Director of Winemaking, Maura Johnson, guides the slow journey from vineyard to bottle in collaboration with renowned winemaking consultant Philippe Melka, who has worked with DANA Estates since the inaugural vintage. Together, DANA’s winemakers bring philosophy into action — working always to enhance the natural essence of every site. Rather than imposing a particular characteristic or house style, our winemaking strives to highlight the purity of the land itself.
All of DANA Estates’ vineyards are farmed organically for optimal vine health. After meticulously timed harvest dates that capture every cluster at its peak, our winemaking team vinifies the freerun juice from each site according to its character.
Lotus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ferments in concrete tanks to underscore the site’s natural minerality and round off the edges of its powerful tannins. Helms Vineyard Cabernet ferments in upright Taransaud oak tanks, which help to coax out the site’s floral character, bolster the tannic structure, and enhance the dustiness of Rutherford. With fruit from the varied soils and slopes of Hershey Vineyard, single-barrel fermentation allows us to tend each lot according to its needs. Our newest Cabernet addition, Montagna Vineyard, ferments utilizing a blend of concrete and single barrel ferments, highlighting the structured tannins and unique fruit profile while enhancing the vineyard's complex mineral notes. DANA Sauvignon Blanc ferments in cigar-shaped barrels, a technique borrowed from Sancerre winemaking, to enhance the wine’s texture and finesse.