Exclusive: Maya Dalla Valle and Partners Purchase Napa’s Cain Vineyard

The future of one of Napa Valley’s most intriguing properties is a little clearer now. Wine Spectator has learned that a partnership formed by Maya Dalla Valle and Coastal Vineyard Care Associates (CVCA) has purchased the Cain Vineyard estate on Spring Mountain from the Meadlock family. The deal includes 500 acres of land—87 acres of which were planted to vines before the Glass Fire ripped through the property in 2020. Of those acres, 15 survived the fire and 52 have been replanted since. Neither side would disclose the price.

Dalla Valle is co-owner and winemaker at Dalla Valle Vineyards, founded by her parents. She will own a 50% share in the partnership. The other half will be owned by CVCA, a vineyard management firm based in Santa Barbara County but with operations in Napa Valley. The firm has a specialty in regenerative, organic and biodynamic farming.

“Cain Vineyard is such a historic site and so iconic,” Dalla Valle told Wine Spectator. “When we saw the opportunity to buy it, we saw the chance to protect and restore a key part of Napa Valley. I’m born and raised here. We saw an opportunity to protect this place.” Dalla Valle plans to develop a new wine from select parcels.

Mountain Terroir

Occupying a ridge between Napa and Sonoma Counties, Cain was a sheep ranch in 1979 when Jerry and Joyce Cain bought the land and began planting Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1986, Jim and Nancy Meadlock became partners in the venture. They bought out the Cains in 1991.

The Cain Cabernet Sauvignons stand apart from many Napa Cabernets. They are more old school in style, with lower levels of alcohol and higher levels of acidity. Much of that personality comes from the vineyard, a distinctive terroir situated about 2,000 feet above sea level. On a clear day, you can make out Sonoma’s Kenwood to the west and Napa Valley’s St. Helena to the east.

Cain Vineyard sits atop a beautiful ridge between Napa and Sonoma. (Courtesy Cain)

When the Glass Fire moved across Spring Mountain in 2020, it burned all the buildings on the property and killed most of the vines. Longtime winemaker Chris Howell evacuated the site when flames were just 1 mile away. The Meadlocks opted not to rebuild. Third Leaf Partners, a private equity firm based in San Francisco that also owns South Africa’s Mulderbosch, bought the Cain brand and inventory in December, 2025, but not the land. Howell is making the wine for the company, which is purchasing the fruit from the Cain vineyard.

A Developing Future

Dalla Valle says they plan to continue replanting the vineyard and maintain their lease with the Cain label. “Cain the winery will continue to buy fruit with no stated end date as the brand is connected to the vineyard.”

She also says that this project will be separate from Dalla Valle Vineyards. “Dalla Valle is 100% estate fruit and will continue to be,” she said. “I am developing a new brand that is completely separate from Dalla Valle. I intend on using select parcels that fit this brand’s profile.” She says there may also be the opportunity to sell Cain Vineyard fruit to other vintners.

—With reporting by Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley.

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