Stags' Leap Winery is a culture. It's a place where history has created a way of life that flows full of extravagant stories, interesting people, and delicious wine. The grounds of our winery are full of charming whimsy that echoes in the way we operate today. From fantastical creatures painted in our pool to our tradition of dancing in the moonlight, there's no place quite like Stags' Leap Winery. Â
We've Always Been an EscapeÂ
Stags' Leap Winery has always been a hideaway. Like the speakeasy hidden under the floorboards of the Manor House, it's a place tucked away for leisure, good wine, and great times. During the first half of the 19th century, it was loved by film industry elites from Los Angeles, known as a place to escape the eyes of nosy fans. In fact, Hold Back the Dawn (released in 1941), starring Charles Boyer and Olivia de Havilland, was filmed at Stags' Leap Winery.Â
Visitors were so frequent that in 1927, the United States government opened a post office in the basement of the Manor House. The post office remained operational for 17 years, even fronting the speakeasy during Prohibition. Â
Today, the post office has become the billiards room, but Stags' Leap Winery remains a tranquil hideaway offering visitors fresh air, good wine, and a lovely place to enjoy wine off the beaten path.
Charming Creatures That Tell a StoryÂ
In 1933, during the Chase era, a plunge pool was constructed on the property, and it is believed to be one of the first swimming pools built in Northern California. The structure boasts a semicircular basin bordered by a trellis of gorgeous mortared stone columns.Â
The pool was drained and eventually, a young girl who spent her summers in the home adorned the walls with an enchanting menagerie of underwater creatures.This playful mural survives today, giving the pool a faded, dreamy rendition of fish, an octopus, and more.Â
A Legacy of Celebrations Â
In 1941, Fred Grange fell in love with Olga Amparo de la Caridad Diaz y Dominguez while in Cuba on business. A whirlwind of a story, Amparo married Fred by proxy and relocated to Stags' Leap Winery shortly after. Â
Amparo became renowned for her all-night salsa dance parties under a star-filled sky in the moon garden. In the winter, the parties were relocated to the wine cave. Â
Today, Amparo’s influence still echoes around the vineyard when we host parties, events, and celebrations, as well as through our Amparo Rosé, named in her honor. Â
