In the 1950's our grandfather Ernest Ilsley purchased forty acres in Stags Leap just off Silverado Trail. By 1962, the Ilsley family bought the adjacent vineyard which was planted with the then popular varieties Carignane and Zinfandel. These grapes were sold to Charles Krug Winery. An off-hand suggestion by Robert Mondavi early in his career resulted in the replanting of the vineyards to produce Cabernet Sauvignon. To this day, Robert Mondavi still purchases our Stags Leap District fruit.