Explore luxury Napa winery listed for $65M. It changed winemaker’s way of life
A winemaker is hoping to sell his highly regarded, 35-year-old Napa Valley wine estate in St. Helena to a buyer who not only can afford the $65 million price tag — but also has a passion for the business and enjoys people and community.
“You have to enjoy people to succeed in this business,” Vineyard 29 winery owner Chuck McMinn said in a phone interview. “I hope that a buyer will not just look at it as a business, but as an investment in a wonderful community.”
McMinn transitioned from Silicon Valley entrepreneur and former Intel executive to Napa Valley vintner after he and his wife Anne purchased the winery from the original owners in 2000. Their search for a weekend home in the wine country suddenly turned into a new career.
Located at 2929 St. Helena Highway North, Vineyard 29 is known for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignons, consistently earning 97-plus ratings, including a 100-point score from Wine Advocate in 2015.
Vineyard 29 was founded in 1989 under the care of vineyard manager David Abreu with 3 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon cuttings from next-door neighbor Grace Family Vineyards. Vineyard 29 produced its first wines in 1992, earning praise under renowned winemakers. After buying the winery, Chuck and Anne McMinn quickly acquired additional acreage and set course for establishing an estate winery.
Modernized facility
They built a modern gravity-flow facility with the capability of producing very fine wines at a profitable volume. In 2006, they launched Cru wines to expand national distribution.
The listing by Erin Lail of Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley includes 38 planted acres across four distinct vineyards, a 17,000-square-foot winery, 13,000 square feet of storage in caves and spaces for entertainment and hosting events. Vineyard 29 produces about 10,000 cases annually, with an expansion permit in place to increase capacity from 30,000 gallons to 75,000 gallons.
The property comprises four large parcels, one of which has an existing 2,700-square-foot residence, offering an opportunity to live on site and further develop the land, if desired.
The vineyards are part of the St. Helena American Viticultural Area (AVA), known for a consistently warm climate and diverse soils that give its wines bold and rich flavors.
Lifestyle change
The couple’s move from the Bay Area to Napa Valley came with a change in lifestyle. McMinn said they have been able to engage in philanthropy at a level not possible in Silicon Valley’s constantly bustling high-tech culture. The change opened a new chapter of giving back, he added.
“The time scale is different here. Watching grapes grow is not a full-time job, and that's opened up a whole new opportunity for me that I've never been involved in, which is philanthropy,” he said. “I never raised money for anything other than the startups I was working at — until I came to Napa Valley. When the community's got a problem and you raise your hand and say, ‘I need some help,’ there's lots of people who help. And it's fun to be in a position not just to throw money some place that'll put your name on the donor wall, but actually to dig in and help to accomplish something with a set of really enthusiastic volunteers and a few paid staff.”
Napa Valley’s slower pace has given McMinn a chance to form genuine relationships and share light-hearted personal moments with wine lovers.
“The slower pace means you really get to know people — sometimes better than you expected,” he said. “I’ve even signed a few wine bottles, which is a first for me. It’s all part of the fun in this community. In 25 years in high technology, no one ever asked me for my autograph. In the 25 years in the wine business, I have signed my name to wine bottles and napkins at least 500 times.
Identifying with wine
“I’m not a movie star. It’s not fame. People just identify with the business (and) the product in very intimate ways,” he added. “I think many wine lovers secretly have the wish that they could be winemakers too.”
A new owner will find Vineyard 29’s operations turnkey, McMinn said. A long-tenured and knowledgeable staff is already in place, beginning at the top with winemaker Keith Emerson, whom McMinn promoted to CEO in 2022 when he retired from day-to-day management.
“We’re looking for someone who can take our brand forward,” McMinn said. “We have customers whom we’ve had since the first vintages. We know them by name. We’ve seen their kids grow up, their parents bring their kids to the winery on their 21st birthday so they could start out right. We’ve had over over a dozen marriage proposals at the winery.”
Chuck and Anne McMinn plan to remain in Napa Valley.
This story was originally published July 30, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Explore luxury Napa winery listed for $65M. It changed winemaker’s way of life."