Opus One Winery LLC

Winemaker Michael Silacci marks his 25th and final vintage with Opus One in 2026 - a legacy defined not by any single wine, but by a steadfast commitment to authenticity, stewardship, and the pursuit of excellence.   Reflecting on Opus One's place in Napa Valley, Michael believes the Estate's greatest contribution has been demonstrating that the pursuit of excellence requires both conviction and the courage to evolve. For 25 vintages, that philosophy has guided his work - honoring the founding vision of Opus One while helping shape its future for generations to come.   Read more on Opus One Moments: https://lnkd.in/esVCiGuz

“There aren’t any egos, which particularly makes everything very enjoyable, but it also encourages you to bring more ideas to the table. It’s really a team process, which I think is unique here, and it’s also really incredible because everyone has different experiences and brings something different to the table. It’s really stimulating to make wine as a group. The team aspect is really front and center.” - Meghan Zobeck, Director of Winemaking Thank you to Devin Reed for featuring Opus One in the first edition of Taste Levels Magazine.

“We never get to the end. We never say, ‘This is it. We have the answer.’ It’s a constant evolution.” - Michael Silacci Our thank you to Jess Lander for visiting the Estate and for sharing this story in the San Francisco Chronicle. https://lnkd.in/ejxTTcg7

“We never get to the end. We never say, ‘This is it. We have the answer.’ It’s a constant evolution.” - Michael Silacci Our thank you to Jess Lander for visiting the Estate and for sharing this story in the San Francisco Chronicle. https://lnkd.in/ejxTTcg7

At Opus One, stewardship extends beyond the vineyard.   To support waste diversion across the winery, we recently shared an updated guide highlighting the locations of specialized recycling and sorting bins throughout winery. The resource makes it easier for employees to identify the appropriate disposal streams as our practices continue to evolve.   We're also pleased to have expanded recycling options for clean, dry colored lab plastics, clear lab plastics, and nitrile gloves.   Thank you to our Lab team for their dedication to improving our sorting processes and helping advance stewardship initiatives across the Estate. These efforts demonstrate how thoughtful operational improvements can make a lasting impact.   To learn more about Opus One’s stewardship practices, please visit our Stewardship page. https://lnkd.in/esbqBBS3

Thoughtful dialogue is essential to the continued evolution of our industry.   Recently, Opus One Research Assistant Sydney Rogers participated in a panel at Unfiltered Wine Festival hosted by Donkey and Goat Winery exploring a question that continues to inspire debate: where does the line between natural and conventional wine lie, and does it matter?   Sydney's interest in this subject stems from her master's research on indigenous yeast and its potential to shape wine quality and expression. That curiosity ultimately led her to Opus One, where she contributes to our native yeast program, established in 2012 to better understand and harness the distinctive microbial populations native to our Estate vineyards.   We are grateful for opportunities that bring together diverse perspectives and advance the collective knowledge of our wine community.

For a quarter century, winemaker Michael Silacci has remained dedicated to crafting a wine that is a true expression of both the Opus One Estate and the character of each growing season. Guided by a philosophy, instilled by our founders, Robert Mondavi, and Baron Philippe De Rothschild, that places the vineyard before the winemaker, he has consistently created wines of classic character and lasting relevance - wines that, like a classic novel or a book of poetry, reveal new dimensions over time and invite discovery with every bottle opened.   His retirement will be felt by everyone at Opus One, and his influence and impact on the Estate will carry on for generations.   “Michael’s contributions to Opus One are profound and enduring, and we thank him for his years of dedication. His devotion to the terroir of the Estate, his ability to integrate innovation with tradition, and his leadership across our vineyards and cellar have guided the winery to new heights. While his retirement represents a natural evolution, the foundations he has built will shape Opus One for generations to come.” - Chris Lynch, Opus One CEO https://lnkd.in/eG4BZpAj

What does the future of the vineyard look like? Assistant Winemaker Kimberlee Marinelli took to the stage as panel moderator for the Future Proofing Vineyards session at the Vine to Mind Symposium - a collaborative conference between University of California, Davis and Harvard University's Data Science School bringing together leading minds across viticulture, technology, and AI. Framing the conversation from a winemaker and grower's perspective, Kimberlee guided an expert panel through an exploration of how data science, imaging, sensors, and artificial intelligence are being leveraged to strengthen and future-proof our vineyards. It was a conversation that sits at the intersection of tradition and innovation - and one that speaks directly to the questions shaping the next chapter of fine wine. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eu4PNRZn

Opus One is proud to participate in the The Regenerative Viticulture Foundation's One Block Challenge - a collaborative program with Napa Green designed to make the transition to regenerative farming more accessible for growers across the region.   While nearly 60% of our Estate is already farmed regeneratively, this challenge gives us the opportunity to deepen that work: collecting soil and vine health data, refining our practices, and sharing what we learn with the broader farming community.   Regenerative viticulture is not just about what happens in one block – it is about building the expertise and dialogue that moves the whole industry forward.

On April 24th, Research Manager Alaina Velasquez represented Opus One at a Napa Valley College evening event, co-sponsored by Women For WineSense, pouring Opus One 2018 and 2022 alongside select 2022 yeast wines to a full house of 80 guests.   The crowd came ready - strong questions and engagement, and a genuine interest in the winemaking process behind each bottle.   A valuable opportunity to connect with the local wine community and share our research firsthand.