Winemaker Notes
Callaway Cellars’ wines, Callaway Cellar Selection and premium tier winery Ely by Callaway Cellars, are galvanized by more than 40 years of California winemaking that started with Ely Callaway. Both tiers offer California’s two most popular varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, which play to the strengths that brought the state its first major acclaim.
Ely by Callaway Cellars focuses on two notable growing regions: Napa Valley and Paso Robles. Napa Valley, which boasts a Mediterranean climate, is the oldest and most prestigious growing area in the state and produces prized Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Paso Robles, California’s “Wild West “of winemaking, is known for its late-season heat suited to Cabernet Sauvignon and for cool night temperatures, resulting in ripe fruit flavors with balanced acidity across all varieties.
Covering the most vine acreage in the state compared to any other red wine variety, Cabernet Sauvignon produces as much wine in California as Merlot and Pinot Noir combined. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates, as well as the freedom of its winemakers, allow for an incredible range of wine styles from this single grape.
California’s most famous region—and especially for Cabernet Sauvignon—is the acclaimed Napa Valley. While Cabernet is successful throughout the world, rarely has it achieved such merit as it does from the Napa Valley. At this point the two are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other.
Napa’s closest neighbor, Sonoma County, does an impressive job keeping up with Napa’s fame and glory. Alexander Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Moon Mountain and Knights Valley contribute to the lot of some of California’s top-rated Cabernet Sauvignon.
Lake County in California’s North Coast has become a focus for some of Napa’s more respected growers. From the Central Coast come iconic examples of classic California Cabernet; Lodi and the Sierra Foothills are great budget-friendly sources of amicable Cabernets.