Powerful Napa wine dynasty dies as sprawling vineyard is snapped up by luxury retailer Chanel

A powerful Napa Valley wine dynasty is over after the owner sold her sprawling vineyard to Chanel.

The luxury retailer bought the Rudd Estate for an undisclosed amount as it expands its Rutherford’s St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery brand across the region.

The estate, which was being run by Samantha Rudd after her winery mogul father Leslie died in 2018, will now focus on its restaurant business.

St. Supéry CEO Emma Swain told Wine Spectator: “We had been searching for exceptional vineyards since 2015.

“We’ve looked at a lot of vineyards and a lot of opportunities and we felt like this was an excellent fit for our portfolio, and for the wines.”

The Rudd family are the latest longtime wine-owners to exit the business as the industry hits an economic downturn.

Assets they sold include the winery’s 65-acre estate and the more affordable Rudd’s Crossroads brand.

Samantha sold other assets in recent years like the Oakville Grocery, the distillery and Edge Hill Winery. Samantha suggested she’ll focus on the family’s restaurants, which include Michelin-starred Press.

She told the SF Chronicle: “While we wish the Rudd Estate team well in this transition, Press Restaurant and Under-Study are independent businesses and will continue to operate as they always have.

“We remain focused on delivering the experiences our guests have come to expect and we’re excited to share news soon about the growth of our hospitality group.”

Chanel increases its land-holding in Napa Valley to more than 1,600 acres across four estates with the buy. Other large companies like Blackstone and Louis Vitton also have assets in the region.

Several longtime wine-owners have been selling in the area recently. Some have struggled to sell, including the winery that once sold Trader Joe’s “Two Buck Chuck” brand.

Benessere Vineyards, a 43-acre estate in St. Helena, Northern California, is heading to auction after struggling to sell after several price drops.

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