Dalla Valle Vineyards was founded in 1986 by Naoko and her late husband Gustav Dalla Valle, in Oakville. Initially they had wanted to create a luxury resort, but when they discovered the potential of the site, they changed tack and decided to make wine. They started with just three acres of vineyards, planting Cabernet Franc and Merlot alongside Cabernet Sauvignon on hillside sites – despite advice at the time not to. Although these plots were harder and more expensive to farm, the quality soon became clear.