Discover Promontory

In the early 1980s while hiking along Oakville’s southwestern ridge, H. William Harlan discovered an isolated territory. The hidden expanse — ancient and untamed — moved him deeply, but remained elusive until the Harlan family finally captured it in 2008. As the second generation explored and worked with the land, they began to make discoveries of their own. At the core of this wild terrain they found a powerful geologic convergence, which had shaped its steep, rugged topography, and created the conditions for an altogether exotic winegrowing environment. Over time they found that the dramatic landscape — just beyond the edge of the known — would slowly change them, and ultimately inspire a new endeavor: Promontory. 

Meet David Cilli

Originally from Montalcino, Italy – the historic growing region for Brunello wines – David Cilli’s winemaking experience ranges from time spent in the great cellars of Montalcino, Australia, and Argentina, before joining the Promontory team in 2012. In his role as Winemaker, David oversees all of Promontory’s winemaking operations, in addition to working closely with the vineyard team to determine growing and harvest decisions. Alongside Cory Empting, Promontory’s Director of Winegrowing, David was deeply involved in developing Promontory’s innovative tradition of cask aging, which remains unique to a winery in the Napa Valley. 

David holds degrees in Agriculture and Enology from the University of Florence’s Department of Agriculture, Oenology, and Viticulture, and from the Agricultural Technical Institute of Siena.