Holiday Gifts

The 2023 vintage was an extremely high-quality season, with grapes that ripened under ideal conditions. A cool and mild spring followed by a warm summer led to an early harvest. Though yields were slightly lower than average, the grape quality was exceptional leading to excellent finished wines.

Vin de Porche-no accent required-is a traditional dry rosé, and true to its name, it's meant to be enjoyed on the porch or patio. Pinot noir grapes from our companion vineyards in Anderson Valley give this wine delicate aromas of strawberry and bright, refreshing acidity.

Napa Valley is known the world over for fine cabernet sauvignon. Vineyards here are blessed with a great diversity of soils and microclimates and express their distinct personalities through remarkable wines. We blend our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from special spots throughout the region, including the renowned cab appellations of Rutherford and Oakville, which impart classic Napa Valley bold fruit intensity, as well as the warmer Calistoga area to the north and the cooler southern reaches of the Suscol watershed, which contribute layers of complexity and depth of flavor.

This wine reveals a fragrant, complex bouquet of ripe blackberry and boysenberry complemented by notes of dark chocolate and toasty oak. Rich and smooth on the palate, the sumptuous dark fruit is balanced by fresh acidity and lush tannins with a lingering, elegant finish and a hint of minerality.

We call our family's Annahala and Apple Barn estate vineyards the 'Two Creek Vineyards,' since these former apple orchards sit on the banks of Anderson Creek, not far from the Pacific Ocean. Here, the soils and weather patterns are ideal for cultivating Pinot Noir, which thrives in the chilly, maritime climate due to the proximity of the Pacific. This climate promotes slow and even ripening, which results in grapes with maximum fruit flavors and a precise balance of opulence and structure. 

Our Napa Valley Merlot displays deep aromas of blackberry and black cherry with a background of crushed stone and violet. Concentrated flavors of fresh blackberry and black plum are balanced by fine tannins and fresh acidity. A lingering rich black cherry finish with a note of minerality rounds out this complex and elegant Merlot.

This Merlot comes from our estate vineyards throughout Napa Valley, including our Suscol Springs Ranch in the cooler southeastern reaches. We also include grapes from our warm, nutrient-rich valley floor vineyard in Rutherford. The diversity of these Merlot vineyard sites enables us to craft a wine that highlights the best of the varietal; deep fruit flavors, silky mouthfeel, bright acidity, and refined elegant tannins.

Our Sauvignon Blanc grapes are grown in the Napa Valley and the North Coast, including in our own estate ranches in Carneros, Napa, Rutherford, and Calistoga. The cooler, southern part of the valley gives us sauvignon blanc with bright citrus characters, flinty minerality, and balanced acidity, while the warmer northern region brings out tropical notes in the final wine.

"Sauvignon blanc was the first white grape variety our family planted in 1972 adjacent to the winery, and it's still thriving there today. Zesty citrus aromas and balanced acidity make this classic Napa Valley sauvignon blanc perfect with lighter fare, fresh cheese, or your favorite seafood dish."— Dolores Cakebread

Grown in the cool Carneros conditions that maintain excellent balance between fruit characters and acidity in grapes. We ferment and age this wine in French oak barrels, and leave it on the yeast lees for months to enhance texture and complexity. Floral aromas mingle with fresh citrus, orange blossom, and white peach characters, and the palate is weighty yet balanced, with a mouth-coating texture and a clean, mineral finish.

"The 1973 Napa Valley Cakebread Chardonnay was the very first wine we released, and we've been fine-tuning it ever since."– Jack Cakebread