Joseph Heitz

1920–2001
Heitz Wine Cellars, St. Helena

Joe Heitz and his wife Alice came to Napa Valley in 1951 so Joe could assist André Tchelistcheff in winemaking at Beaulieu Winery. While Joe worked with André and completed his graduate work at UC Davis, he was invited to help establish a Department of Enology at Fresno State in 1956. Two years later he left Beaulieu to become the first enologist for the unique Fresno State Winery. Joe’s heart and winemaking spirit remained in Napa Valley, however, and in 1961 he bought eight acres of vineyard (in Grignolino) and a winery just south of St. Helena. He soon bought 160 more acres of vineyard land in Spring Valley from the Holts. The property included a stone winery built in 1898 by the Rossi family. This became the operating winery of Heitz, and the other its tasting room.

In 1965, Joe met Tom and Martha May, and a felicitous friendship began. The first vineyard designated wine in Napa Valley was Heitz Wine Cellars 1966 Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. The designation had been an idea of Tom and Joe’s. In 1976, Heitz initiated its Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyard of Barney and Belle Rhodes (it had also produced a Fay Vineyard Cabernet from 19751979) and in 1989, Heitz’s own Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon completed a single vineyard trio. Joe’s son, David, learned winemaking at his father’s side and at Fresno State. The 1974 Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was his first solo vintage as winemaker, the position he continues to hold at Heitz. Joe’s daughter Kathleen is its president.

Dick hadn’t met Joe when he came to take his photograph. Dick says he had to spend time persuading Joe to leave the living room and go outside to have his picture taken. Finally Dick was able to photograph Joe standing at the south end of his winery.