There are places in the world that are so special that the wine that is produced there becomes renowned. The eastern side of Oakville, CA coined ‘Magic Mountain’ is one of those places. What emerges from this rocky, sun-drenched soil is like no other Cabernet in the world.
Matt Kramer
The Wine Spectator
Our story began thousands of years ago, when a single mountain within the Vaca Range split in two and collapsed, resulting in a rubble field of volcanic core stones that face the setting sun. This event created what is now the eastern border of the Oakville AVA, and is a site that is exposed to constant and intense daily sunshine. This results in grapes that possess extremely ripe tannins, contributing to the unique elegance and approachability of our wines. Because of the ‘magic’ of this place and to ensure we produce wines reflective of the site, every step in the winemaking and viticulture process is first class.
Oakville East’s multi-vineyard Oakville locations surround some of California’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon wines, including Joseph Phelps Backus, Dalle Valle, and Sir Peter Michael vines, and are perched above Rudd, Gargiulo and Screaming Eagle.
There are places in the world that are so special that the wine that is produced there becomes renowned. The eastern side of Oakville, CA coined ‘Magic Mountain’ is one of those places. What emerges from this rocky, sun-drenched soil is like no other Cabernet in the world.
Matt Kramer
The Wine Spectator
Founder and Owner
A third-generation wine industry veteran, Elliot is the founder and CEO of Divot Enterprises LLC – Oakville East, Lakegirl Wines, and RoughRoad Wines. His experience in luxury wine is extensive with senior management experience that dates back to GM of Sam’s Wine & Spirits in Chicago, VP of Sales and Marketing at Wilson Daniels and Founding Partner and COO of the Sorting Table, a luxury wine sales and marketing company.
At Oakville East, the family business where he is the Chief of Everything, dreams of passing his one-of-a-kind luxury wine to the next generation of the Stern Family looks promising.
Head Winemaker
French native Marie-Laure, grew up in the rural Limousin region. She pursued a career in wine by obtaining winemaking diplomas in both Burgundy and Bordeaux. After working in France at Domaine Lejeune in Pommard, Château de Pressac Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Dulong Negociant in Bordeaux, Marie-Laure moved to California.
Fascinated by the energy and potential for great wine in California, she has been working with Philippe Melka since the 2003 harvest. In 2009, Marie-Laure joined the Oakville East wine project. She brings a remarkable French point of view to our winemaking and blending.
Revealing an intense purple color, this Cabernet Sauvignon has wall-to wall flavors that are plum, rich, complex, and exhibits gorgeous aromas of crème de cassis, licorice and blueberry liqueur. The wine is intense, full bodied, but finishes with soft round tannins that are structured and layered.
Franc 'N Stern exhibits a dark ruby-purple color with aromas of sweet boysenberry, mulberry and dark fruits along with notes of forest floor and violets. The wine is monstrously full bodied with ripe dark fruit, red plums, freshness, ripe tannins, and length. It should evolve nicely with some age.
This blend brings forward aromas of blueberry, blackberry, tobacco, vanilla, marshmallow, black currant, tea, roses, violets, dust and a hint of mint. The mid palate is full bodied with fine velvet chewy tannins with bright balanced acidity, with flavors of rhubarb, cocoa, strawberry, cassis, and plum.
This Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a crushed rock/iron profile which adds dust and minerality to the intense orange blossom, cardamom, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, red currant and strawberry flavors and aromas. The tannin structure is well-developed and balances with bright acidity.
Our wines
Oakville East Exposure 2014
Silky tannins complement a wealth of structured, luscious cherry and cassis in this wine, blended with nearly 13% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Amidst an undercurrent of toasted oak and vanilla are length and complexity for days. This is drinking nicely now but should do well with cellaring; enjoy 2024–2030.
– VIRGINIE BOONE
Oakville East Franc’ n Stern 2016
Reduced and strongly aromatic in coffee, this wine offers generous helpings of tannin and dark brooding blackberry, tar and dark chocolate. Its powerful concentration doesn’t detract from the overall structure, which suggests aging. Enjoy best 2025–2030.
– VIRGINIE BOONE
Founder and Owner
A third-generation wine industry veteran, Elliot is the founder and CEO of Divot Enterprises LLC – Oakville East, Lakegirl Wines, and RoughRoad Wines. His experience in luxury wine is extensive with senior management experience that dates back to GM of Sam’s Wine & Spirits in Chicago, VP of Sales and Marketing at Wilson Daniels and Founding Partner and COO of the Sorting Table, a luxury wine sales and marketing company.
At Oakville East, the family business where he is the Chief of Everything, dreams of passing his one-of-a-kind luxury wine to the next generation of the Stern Family looks promising.
Head Winemaker
French native Marie-Laure, grew up in the rural Limousin region. She pursued a career in wine by obtaining winemaking diplomas in both Burgundy and Bordeaux. After working in France at Domaine Lejeune in Pommard, Château de Pressac Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Dulong Negociant in Bordeaux, Marie-Laure moved to California.
Fascinated by the energy and potential for great wine in California, she has been working with Philippe Melka since the 2003 harvest. In 2009, Marie-Laure joined the Oakville East wine project. She brings a remarkable French point of view to our winemaking and blending.
Our wines
Oakville East Exposure 2014
Silky tannins complement a wealth of structured, luscious cherry and cassis in this wine, blended with nearly 13% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Amidst an undercurrent of toasted oak and vanilla are length and complexity for days. This is drinking nicely now but should do well with cellaring; enjoy 2024–2030.
– VIRGINIE BOONE
Oakville East Franc’ n Stern 2016
Reduced and strongly aromatic in coffee, this wine offers generous helpings of tannin and dark brooding blackberry, tar and dark chocolate. Its powerful concentration doesn’t detract from the overall structure, which suggests aging. Enjoy best 2025–2030.
– VIRGINIE BOONE
