O’Shaughnessy

O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery was founded by Betty O’Shaughnessy and her husband Paul Woolls. Betty first came to Napa Valley in 1990, acquiring land in Oakville, and began planting vineyards on Howell Mountain in 1997, including 29 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 6 acres of Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, Carménère, St. Macaire, and Gros Verdot) on a 120-acre property. In 2000, the winery expanded to Mount Veeder with a 55-acre property—17 acres planted—and later added the 265-acre Woolls Ranch in 2006, with 32 planted acres.

Their winemaking philosophy emphasizes terroir and minimal intervention, guided by founding winemaker Sean Capiaux. Capiaux, who earned a B.S. in Enology with a minor in Chemistry at California State University, Fresno, brings experience from Jordan, Houghton (Australia), Pine Ridge, and Peter Michael wineries before launching Capiaux Cellars in 1994. He joined O’Shaughnessy as president and winemaker in 2001 and is known for producing naturally fermented, unfined, and unfiltered mountain Cabs that let the vineyard character shine.

The winery remains passionate about expressing its mountain‑grown Cabernet Sauvignon. Their holdings across Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, and Oakville—including Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from Oakville—are celebrated for their power, elegance, and terroir-driven expression. Winemaking techniques are modern yet restrained, with thermal‑controlled fermentations and frequent use of indigenous yeasts and strong varietal integrity.