Modern wine merchant Flint Wines is pleased to announce it has entered into an exclusive agreement to import the wines of one of Napa Valley’s most prestigious producers, Realm Cellars. Flint - renowned for working with terroir-focused producers from around the world - will become the sole distributor of Realm Cellars in the UK, with wines available to pre-order from September.
Realm Cellars produces some of the most highly sought-after, collectible wines in Napa Valley. Known for its exemplary Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines and Bordeaux-style blends, Realm has established itself as one of Napa’s most distinguished wineries in a relatively fast rise to fame. In its early years, Realm’s bold style won over major critics, helping to establish its reputation. Over the last decade, the team has continued to hone their craft, with the resulting wines showing nuance and precision, continuing to garner critical acclaim and win over collectors around the world.
Head of Buying for Flint, Beth Pearce MW, says “I’m delighted to add to Flint’s already exceptional Napa portfolio. I’ve been hooked on developments at Realm since I first visited in 2021, and think their ruthless commitment to quality, and their long-term vision, suits Flint down to the ground. Their growing list of estate vineyards, combined with sourcing from some legendary sites across Napa, makes them a seriously exciting winery to have in the Flint range.”
Flint’s Napa Valley portfolio continues to move from strength to strength, with Realm complementing an already substantial stable which includes the likes of Snowden Vineyards, Continuum Estate, Aubert, The Mascot and more recent additions Rosemary Cakebread’s Gallica and Grace Family Vineyards.
In 2012, Realm was a virtual winery on the brink of bankruptcy, before proprietor Scott Becker acquired the business and set out to revive it. Today, Realm boasts a collection of three winegrowing estates with 75 acres of vineyards across some of Napa Valley’s most notable regions, including Stags Leap District, Pritchard Hill and Coombsville. Its portfolio has evolved to showcase this historic wine region’s brilliance and diversity - encompassing both single vineyard expressions and proprietary blends, all unified by freshness, precision, focus and structure. Alongside its estate vineyard sites, Realm Cellars has partnered with prestigious Napa Valley wine growers and vineyard sites to produce some of the finest and most celebrated wines in the area, including Beckstoffer Dr. Crane and To Kalon.
Realm Cellars embodies an entrepreneurial spirit while remaining deeply respectful of tradition and legacy. Through the vibrant artwork on its bottles – many of which are specifically commissioned – Realm aims to tell a story about the craft, the place and the people behind the wines. For example, Merlot-based blend The Tempest features commissioned artwork by UK artist Richard Twose, depicting figures balancing on haphazardly stacked chairs – a striking metaphor for the delicate interplay of balance and tension, risk and reward that defines the craft of winemaking.
The full portfolio of Realm wines will be available via Flint: a dozen bottlings that include estate wines, single vineyards and proprietary blends. Realm’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated proprietary blend, The Bard, is a dense and concentrated expression of Napa Valley which blends grapes from Coombsville to Calistoga, dating back to 2003. Moonracer became the first estate wine in the portfolio, when Realm acquired the former Hartwell Vineyards in the Stags Leap District in 2015. Farella is a structured, soulful Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the first vineyards planted in Coombsville, a cooler region known for fresh wines with energy. Houyi Vineyard rounds out the estate wines with a dynamic, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon blend from a site first planted by respected vineyard manager David Abreu.
Realm Cellars will be available to pre-order from September for the on trade, and for private customers via the Flint Private Client team.
