O'Shaughnessy Winery
HOWELL MOUNTAIN
Many of our estate vines now exhibit fourteen years of age. They have established deep roots on our 100 acre hillside property. Between 1997 and 2002, we planted 29 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. We also cultivate 6 acres of blending varietal: Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, Carmenere and St. Macaire. In pursuit of maximizing our options for flavor, we utilized several different root stocks and clones for our Cabernet plantings. The vines span two distinct vineyards which we have the privilege of farming. Amphitheater derives its name from its shape across the hillside. Rancho del Oso, nearest the winery, boasts a resident black bear who visits from time to time. He has no part in either viticulture or winemaking.
MOUNT VEEDER
The vines from our steeply terraced, “Betty’s Vineyard”, struggle for nourishment and moisture consistently producing clusters with small berries and intense flavors. Wines from this vineyard have been highly acclaimed through the media since our first vintage in 2002 for their power and elegance. Aromatically, we love the lavender and violet tones emanating from this property.
OAKVILLE
Our Oakville vineyard spans 30 acres surrounding our home. Planted at various times, we grow white varietals for O’Shaughnessy. The Sauvignon Blanc fruit creates our crisp, flavorful wine. The Chardonnay plantings of Old Wente Clones, as well as 809 and 548 provide the backbone of our complex, dramatic blend which debuted with our 2009 vintage.
BETTY O’SHAUGHNESSY WOOLLS AND PAUL WOOLLS - PROPRIETORS
Betty hails from Minnesota, having spent her childhood growing up in a rural farming community. After college she raised a family while building a career in real estate investment/development in Minneapolis. Her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for food and wine fueled the fires that transitioned her from owner/teacher of a cooking school in Minneapolis, to creating a winery in Napa Valley.
In Napa, Betty fell in love with the beauty of the land, the vineyards, and the climate. In 1990 she landed in Oakville with a parcel of land, including vineyards and a home site. Betty reconnected with her deep rooted appreciation of the soil and the bounties it brings. Over the next few years, additional vineyards on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder added to the source available for varieties of grapes. The new century brought a cave, grapes crushed into wine and a design for a winery structure. The project completed in time for the harvest of 2003.
In addition to the winery, Betty remains an active volunteer and philanthropist in the community. In 2002, Betty took on the role as Chair of the Board of Directors for Napa Community Bank, where she still serves as a director. In 2009, her community involvement expanded to include an exciting new role as Trustee for Napa's Queen of the Valley Medical Center.
Paul, too, began life in the Midwest. Born almost on the campus of Indiana University, Paul later moved to New Mexico. He now sheepishly admits there developing the beginnings of a passion for wine - albeit on brands that today no serious vigneron would admit consuming. From those beginnings, Paul found in college that starving for a month would allow for one great meal at the only French restaurant nearby. Then law school and his practice allowed the drive to learn about wine to thrive. That drive culminated in a fortuitous wine tasting where he met Betty.
Together, they now share a challenging goal of making the best possible wine from the exceptional vineyards they steward. Likewise they are most fortunate to enjoy family life provided by numerous children (all girls) and even more grandchildren (mostly boys). Betty and Paul continue life’s joyous ride as companions, partners, and winemaking buddies in the O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery.
SEAN CAPIAUX - PRESIDENT AND WINEMAKER
Founding winemaker, Sean Capiaux, has established an impressive and notable career over the past twenty six years at prominent wineries around the globe. He graduated from California State University, Fresno (BS, Enology; minor in Chemistry) in the late-80’s and began his career at Jordan Winery in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley. Sean traveled to Perth, Australia to work on the winemaking team at the Houghton Winery and later returned to the United States to become the assistant winemaker at Pine Ridge Winery in the Stags Leap district. Peter Michael Winery tapped him to become their assistant winemaker where he worked for four years. Sean spent several years as a bicoastal winemaker attending to wines both on Long Island and in California before coming to O’Shaughnessy.
Sean serves as president and winemaker for the O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery and consistently creates world class mountain Cabernets. Sean describes his winemaking style as neo-classic in that he employs modern equipment to produce non-interventious wines which are naturally fermented and bottled unfined and unfiltered. These techniques allow the varietal character and terroir of the O’Shaughnessy Estate vineyards to be the stars of the show.
Many of our estate vines now exhibit fourteen years of age. They have established deep roots on our 100 acre hillside property. Between 1997 and 2002, we planted 29 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. We also cultivate 6 acres of blending varietal: Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, Carmenere and St. Macaire. In pursuit of maximizing our options for flavor, we utilized several different root stocks and clones for our Cabernet plantings. The vines span two distinct vineyards which we have the privilege of farming. Amphitheater derives its name from its shape across the hillside. Rancho del Oso, nearest the winery, boasts a resident black bear who visits from time to time. He has no part in either viticulture or winemaking.
MOUNT VEEDER
The vines from our steeply terraced, “Betty’s Vineyard”, struggle for nourishment and moisture consistently producing clusters with small berries and intense flavors. Wines from this vineyard have been highly acclaimed through the media since our first vintage in 2002 for their power and elegance. Aromatically, we love the lavender and violet tones emanating from this property.
OAKVILLE
Our Oakville vineyard spans 30 acres surrounding our home. Planted at various times, we grow white varietals for O’Shaughnessy. The Sauvignon Blanc fruit creates our crisp, flavorful wine. The Chardonnay plantings of Old Wente Clones, as well as 809 and 548 provide the backbone of our complex, dramatic blend which debuted with our 2009 vintage.
BETTY O’SHAUGHNESSY WOOLLS AND PAUL WOOLLS - PROPRIETORS
Betty hails from Minnesota, having spent her childhood growing up in a rural farming community. After college she raised a family while building a career in real estate investment/development in Minneapolis. Her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for food and wine fueled the fires that transitioned her from owner/teacher of a cooking school in Minneapolis, to creating a winery in Napa Valley.
In Napa, Betty fell in love with the beauty of the land, the vineyards, and the climate. In 1990 she landed in Oakville with a parcel of land, including vineyards and a home site. Betty reconnected with her deep rooted appreciation of the soil and the bounties it brings. Over the next few years, additional vineyards on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder added to the source available for varieties of grapes. The new century brought a cave, grapes crushed into wine and a design for a winery structure. The project completed in time for the harvest of 2003.
In addition to the winery, Betty remains an active volunteer and philanthropist in the community. In 2002, Betty took on the role as Chair of the Board of Directors for Napa Community Bank, where she still serves as a director. In 2009, her community involvement expanded to include an exciting new role as Trustee for Napa's Queen of the Valley Medical Center.
Paul, too, began life in the Midwest. Born almost on the campus of Indiana University, Paul later moved to New Mexico. He now sheepishly admits there developing the beginnings of a passion for wine - albeit on brands that today no serious vigneron would admit consuming. From those beginnings, Paul found in college that starving for a month would allow for one great meal at the only French restaurant nearby. Then law school and his practice allowed the drive to learn about wine to thrive. That drive culminated in a fortuitous wine tasting where he met Betty.
Together, they now share a challenging goal of making the best possible wine from the exceptional vineyards they steward. Likewise they are most fortunate to enjoy family life provided by numerous children (all girls) and even more grandchildren (mostly boys). Betty and Paul continue life’s joyous ride as companions, partners, and winemaking buddies in the O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery.
SEAN CAPIAUX - PRESIDENT AND WINEMAKER
Founding winemaker, Sean Capiaux, has established an impressive and notable career over the past twenty six years at prominent wineries around the globe. He graduated from California State University, Fresno (BS, Enology; minor in Chemistry) in the late-80’s and began his career at Jordan Winery in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley. Sean traveled to Perth, Australia to work on the winemaking team at the Houghton Winery and later returned to the United States to become the assistant winemaker at Pine Ridge Winery in the Stags Leap district. Peter Michael Winery tapped him to become their assistant winemaker where he worked for four years. Sean spent several years as a bicoastal winemaker attending to wines both on Long Island and in California before coming to O’Shaughnessy.
Sean serves as president and winemaker for the O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery and consistently creates world class mountain Cabernets. Sean describes his winemaking style as neo-classic in that he employs modern equipment to produce non-interventious wines which are naturally fermented and bottled unfined and unfiltered. These techniques allow the varietal character and terroir of the O’Shaughnessy Estate vineyards to be the stars of the show.
