Winemaker Notes
The grapes for our Napa Valley Chardonnay always come from Napa Valley's best Chardonnay micro-climates: the southernmost section of the Valley, and the Carneros region, cool-climate areas famed for the world-class quality of their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The wine has a generous aroma of citrus, ripe pear, green apples, and a mineral component with a subtle hint of oak. In the background, those same characteristics are prominent in its flavors. This wine has good depth with an ideal balance of fruit and crisp acidity. A fresh, silky finish completes what we believe is an outstanding Napa Valley Chardonnay.
Over 30 years ago, Jack Cakebread came to photograph the Napa Valley for a book and while there, he casually mentioned his interest in one day owning a vineyard to some family friends who had a ranch in Rutherford. When he returned home that afternoon, the phone rang and it was the family friends offering to sell their property. He headed back up to the valley that same afternoon to make his best offer, and Cakebread Cellars was born.
As the Cakebread family reflects upon the many profound changes in the wine industry over the last 33 years, such as innovative farming techniques and new methods of reaching out to consumers, they note that their key values have remained the same. Dedication to making the highest quality wines and a commitment to family has followed a continuum as their first small vineyard has grown into a thriving internationally distributed wine company.