This year marks a significant milestone in our long history. The Miravalle mansion, built by Tiburcio Parrott in 1885, turns 140 years old. For almost a century and a half, this remarkable home has been an icon of our estate. A beautiful testament of late-19th century architecture, it is perhaps more famously known for its role in the 1980s TV series Falcon Crest. Today, it remains at the heart of every experience at the winery. To honor this legacy, we have some exciting plans over the next year, including special commemorative wines.
Originally purchased for Tiburcio by his step mother in 1884, the property spanned 800 acres just above Saint Helena. Within a year, Parrott began construction on his palatial residence with the help of Albert Schroepfer, the architect responsible for both the Neibaum and Beringer homes. Miravalle, meaning "look valley," was designed to have panoramic views of Napa Valley from its fourth-floor tower and cupola. The mansion featured wraparound verandas, a conservatory, and exquisite details like stained glass cupids and Parrott’s initials over the massive front doors. On the first landing of his wide staircase, he put the famous parrot window (which Lorimar, in its TV production of Falcon Crest in the 1980s, insisted on calling a falcon).
At the time, he also built a barn of Eastlake architecture and finished the inside with polished wood, ornate cast iron divisions for stalls, and iron feed boxes. He planted a vineyard and began tunneling into the nearest hill for a wine cellar. He also planted 5,000 olive trees and 1,000 citrus as well as 5,000 roses of nearly 250 different varieties.
A bachelor much of his life, Tiburcio Parrott had a delightfully earthy side to his personality and was well regarded around town. Tragically, he passed away in 1894, just ten years after Miravalle's completion. The mansion remained vacant but well-preserved for the next 70 years.
Eventually the property was purchased by Mike Robbins in 1974. After acquiring Miravalle, Robbins restored the Victorian residence and built a 17,000 square foot winery at the site of Tiburcios wine cave.
In 1981, Lorimar Studios of Hollywood approached Robbins with an offer to film a television series at Miravalle about the Napa Valley, to be entitled “Vintage Years’. The pilot was a success and it was eventually turned into a series, renamed Falcon Crest. The Victorian home of Tiburcio Parrott soon became one of the most recognized residences in the world.
While the TV series made the property famous, Robbins continued to make wonderful wines through the 1980s. A large inventory of wine from this era was acquired with the property. These older vintages have been placed in a library where they remain a testament to the great winemaking and resurgence of the wine industry in the 1970's and 1980's. Several of these historic library vintages are for sale on a limited basis.
Central to the Spring Mountain Vineyard experience, Miravalle has retained its sense of grandeur and grace. As we commemorate its 140th anniversary, we're excited to honor this extraordinary legacy with two special commemorative wines: a 2019 “Miravalle” Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 “Miravalle” Estate Cabernet Franc. Both of these small-lot wines come from single blocks on our La Perla Vineyard. Historically, some of the best on the estate, these lots were exceptional in 2019, standing out from all 54 separated fermented lots.
The 2019 “Miravalle” Estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the top block on our property, delivering brambly richness and complex layers. Dark fruits and florals open the nose, hemmed by cedar, dried herbs and chaparral. Muscular, but not overbearing, the palate is dense and juicy with black currant, licorice, and spice. Structured tannins hold the finish, highlighted by notes of cocoa and sweet espresso.
Our 2019 “Miravalle” Cabernet Franc displays classic Spring Mountain character with acidity, spice, and dusty tannins. Complex and rich, it has a beautiful balance of fresh red fruits, rhubarb, violets and baking spice. The mid-palate is soft and juicy, mingling with graphite, earth, and supple tannins across a long finish.
If you wish to reserve these small production wines in advance, contact our Spring Mountain Vineyard team.
