(WineSpectator) - Leaving Los Angeles for Napa in 1967, Chappellet produced outstanding wine and put an appellation on the map.

Before Donn Chappellet set his sights on producing powerful, ageworthy wines, he made a fortune distributing coffee-vending machines. But in 1967, seeking an escape from the hustle of Beverly Hills, he and his wife, Molly, moved to Napa Valley and founded Chappellet Vineyards, part of Napa's quality revolution and the winery that put Pritchard Hill on the map. Chappellet died May 22 after a long illness, according to his family. He was 84.

"Dad was the kindest, most thoughtful person," said son Cyril Chappellet, the winery's current board chairman. "He was our rock, our mentor, and an inspiration, not just to our entire family, but to so many others as well. He was also humble beyond belief. Despite everything he accomplished, he never took the credit. "

Donn Chappellet was born in 1931 in Los Angeles, and met his future wife there as a teenager. The two were married during his senior year at Pomona College. Molly was an art student, and Donn, an aspiring businessman, cofounded Interstate United Corp. in 1954. Distributing the first vending machines to make coffee from fresh grounds, the business was highly successful, but the bigger it grew, the unhappier Chappellet became.

In 1966, he sold his stake in the company and began to look for a second act. He had become a fan of Bordeaux and figured Napa Valley was his best bet if he wanted to make great Cabernet Sauvignon. "It was the most proven place in California," Chappellet told Wine Spectator in 2012.

When Donn and Molly arrived in Napa, they had five children and one on the way. Chappellet was determined to create world-class wines that mirrored first-growth Bordeaux. While most area wineries were on the valley floor, winemaker André Tchelistcheff persuaded Chappellet to purchase land in the rugged hills east of Oakville.

The rocky terrain was mostly boulders, manzanita and madrone trees, and dry, scraggly shrubs. Of the 320 acres Chappellet secured, 60 were already planted to Chenin Blanc, Cabernet and Gamay. Chappellet Vineyards became the first winery on Pritchard Hill, pioneering high-elevation hillside planting in the area. It was also the second Napa winery founded since Prohibition, just a year after Robert Mondavi Winery opened its doors.

It took just one vintage for the Chappellets to validate Tchelistcheff's advice. Their debut Napa Valley Cabernet, the 1969, captured the essence of Pritchard Hill. Their Cabernet has become a classic representation of the grape's Napa Valley style—rich and full-bodied, it drinks well in its youth and ages well.

Thanks to the Chappellets' example, Pritchard Hill has grown to be one of Napa's most expensive and sought-after neighborhoods. Their neighbors now include some of Napa's top producers, such as Bryant, Colgin, Ovid and Continuum. The winery will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year and remains family-owned. Donn guided the success for four decades, and today, the second generation of the family continues to run the company.