Oakville's Futo Is Built to Compete with Napa's Cabernet Elite

Futo's Jason Exposto has stepped out of the shadows of legendary winemakers Stéphane Derenoncourt and Mark Aubert

Futo Estate and its Oakville Cabernet vineyards
Futo Estate and its Oakville Cabernet vineyards have earned their place among Napa's most prestigious properties. (Courtesy of Futo Estate)

As they say in real estate, "Location, location, location."

Tucked in the foothills of Napa's Mayacamas range, on the western side of Oakville and just next door to Harlan, Futo certainly has it. They also share winery architects in the late Howard Backen, and both represent two of the finer examples of his genre-defining legacy.

But of course, in wine, you also have to do something with that location—wines don’t make themselves. That’s where Jason Exposto comes in. Exposto, 45, has been winemaker here since 2008.

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