Lagniappe Peak Vineyards
Napa Valley AVA
World-class, award-winning Cabs and Bordeaux blends
Located in the Atlas Peak appellation of Napa Valley, Lagniappe Peak Vineyards is a ten-acre estate dedicated to sustainable farming, renewable energy, and producing world-class Napa Valley wines. Lagniappe (pronounced LAN-yap) is a word used in Louisiana to signify an unexpected gift or “something extra,” which is exactly what owners Debra and Bob Almeida found when they purchased the Napa Valley estate in 1999. It is their goal to find that special “something extra” in each vintage of Lagniappe Peak wine.
Debra and Bob Almeida were first bitten by the “wine bug” while living in Sydney, Australia in the 1980’s. They spent extensive time in the Hunter Valley winegrowing region of New South Wales and it sparked an intense desire to someday start their own vineyard and winery. The idea remained dormant, though, as the couple then moved to Manhattan (New York) to continue Bob’s career in finance. When a job took the Almeidas to the west coast in 1997, Bob and Debra decided to take advantage of their close proximity to California wine country and scouted many potential vineyard properties throughout Napa and Sonoma Counties. In 1999, fate led them to the future site of Lagniappe Peak – a stunning Atlas Peak property in Napa Valley that was considered impractical for growing grapes by the previous owners. It wasn’t until 2007 when Bob retired that the couple went to work clearing the land and steep hillsides for the planting of their first vineyard. In 2009, Lagniappe Peak Vineyards became a reality.
Bob and Debra Almeida are joined by winemaker Kian Tavakoli, who brings over 15 years of winemaking, operations, and viticultural experience to the Lagniappe Peak team. After earning a degree in enology from UC Davis, Kian spent four years learning Cabernet Sauvignon winemaking techniques at Opus One before becoming the winemaker for Clos Du Val. There, he headed the red wine program which included the highly acclaimed reserve bottlings. His extensive experience in making award-winning Napa Valley Cabs and Bordeaux blends is the perfect complement to Lagniappe Peak’s style and winemaking philosophy. Lagniappe Peak currently produces just four wines – all red blends and all estate grown on the Almeida’s Atlas Peak property. We hope you enjoy the first release from this family owned winery, an exciting new addition to Napa Valley’s Atlas Peak appellation.
