March 23, 2026 (St. Helena, CA) — Spring Mountain Vineyard, a storied estate nestled in the Spring Mountain District Appellation, in the Mayacamas Mountain Range, is proud to announce the early start of Phase 2 of its massive 225-acre vineyard replanting project. Kicking off six weeks earlier than last year’s schedule, the accelerated start is largely attributed to the warm California weather, with temperatures consistently more than ten degrees warmer than usual for the past week.

The second phase of the transformation began last week by planting the historic blocks 41-45 of the historic La Perla Ranch. Consistent with Napa permit rules, the planting utilized soil that was fully prepped and tilled at the end of last season, allowing the work to commence before the April 1st date for moving new earth. The replanting effort includes all four ranches of the estate—Miravalle, Chateau Chevalier, La Perla, and Alba—and is a critical step in restoring the estate’s historic glory following the destructive 2020 Glass Fire.

“We are thrilled to be kicking off Phase 2 this week, starting with the historic La Perla Ranch,” says Peter Ekman, Spring Mountain Vineyard CEO. “The early start has been a welcome surprise, and it’s incredibly exciting to see these next steps in our journey to restore Spring Mountain Vineyard’s historic glory, ensuring it continues to produce exceptional wines for generations to come.”

The overall project is being led by acclaimed winemakers Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky of Atelier Melka and renowned viticulturist Garrett Buckland of Premiere Viticultural Services and lead vineyard manager Paul Goldberg, President of Bettinelli Vineyards.

Spring Mountain Vineyard’s history dates back to the late 19th century with the founding of La Perla, Chateau Chevalier, Alba and Miravalle racnhes between 1872 and 1884. These early pioneers planted vines and built wine cellars, driven by a belief that the mountain could produce world-class wine. La Perla was the first home to Cabernet Sauvignon vines on Spring Mountain, and Chateau Chevalier is credited with establishing one of the earliest gravity-flow wineries in the region.

In 1976, Spring Mountain Chardonnay placed fourth in the Judgment of Paris, outperforming famous French houses and putting the region on the map. By the 1990s, the neighboring ranches were joined to form Spring Mountain Vineyard.

About Spring Mountain Vineyard
Spring Mountain Vineyard is a privately owned 845-acre wine estate located on the steep slopes of Spring Mountain, east of St. Helena in Napa Valley. Comprised of four unique vineyard ranches (Miravalle, Chateau Chevalier, La Perla and Alba) it was first planted to Cabernet Sauvignon in 1873 and has since continued its pursuit of excellence. Spring Mountain rose to critical acclaim for its wines with its 1973 Spring Mountain Chardonnay, which placed fourth in the groundbreaking Judgment of Paris in 1976. For more information, visit www.springmountainvineyard.com.