Cakebread Cellars Tasting & Tour

Cakebread Cellars in Rutherford is known for its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays, offering a welcoming tasting room and scenic vineyard setting for a memorable wine country experience

When planning my time in Napa, I hesitated when Cakebread Cellars appeared as a recommendation in my winery search. Unfortunately, a  visit over a decade ago had left me unimpressed – and even irritated by the tour host – which inevitably colored my perception of the wines.

Yet, the thought of giving Cakebread Cellars another chance lingered. The past was the past, after all.  Embracing the idea of a fresh taste, I booked the final tasting of the day.

The result? One of the most enjoyable wine experiences I’ve had in Napa Valley.

Sauvignon Blanc

Entering the tasting room, I was introduced to Sam, my guide and poured a tasting of the Cakebread Cellars Viewfinder, a 2023 Sauvignon Blanc from the Estate Vineyards in Napa Valley.

This was a very appreciated awakening of the senses. The effort was a concrete fermented expression, from all estate grown grapes.

Chardonnay

Sam then whisked me away from the main welcome area and into the first stop on our tour.

Here, I sampled the Cakebread Cellars 2021 Chardonnay Reserve, with grapes from the Carneros area of Napa Valley.

Seated in the beautiful first tasting room, I asked Sam about the impact of the recent Napa Valley fires on the region and wine production. With ease, she explained how the fires had fundamentally changed the way the valley operates. For Cakebread Cellars, a significant portion of their crop was damaged by smoke, making it unusable for production.

Sam also showed me a terrain map of the Valley and pointed out specifically areas that were affected. I was in awe. She then explained that the winery moved toward producing wines that would lend themselves better to early drinking wines vs wines that needed to be bottle aged. The reasoning? Less need to age and faster to move out from the winery.

We then moved into the concrete barrel aging room.

Now, I cannot lie – I was rendered speechless.

Yes, I’d heard of wood barrel aging wines.

And, I’d tasted white wines that shined with stainless steel aging. But – concrete?

Wow.

When I asked Sam about the shift in focus Cakebread Cellars had toward aging in concrete egg shaped barrels, she highlighted the characteristics present in the Sauvignon Blanc varietal, which I then looked forward to tasting.

Sam explained that their winemaker made a distinct choice to focus on the texture of the wine vs the flavor. Fascinated, I asked about other wineries in the area that focused on aging their wines in non traditional methods. Sam mentioned that she believed Turnbull Wine Cellars ferments their wines in terracotta amphora – which again, fascinated me.

In this conversation, I realized the future of wine demanded a commitment to understanding and focusing on modern tastes and preferences to stay on top of the pulse of society tastes. There is a distinct difference in offering new – from a new taste, a new method to a new process of looking at wines.

Pinot Noirs

Next to the concrete concrete barrels, I sampled the Cakebread Cellars’ 2202 Pinot Noir, Annahala Ranch, with grapes from Anderson Valley.

Following, we moved into another gorgeous room to taste the Pinot Noir from Ann Ranch. This is a varietal that is harvested by hand at night and brought to the winery. Again, I was humbled by the complexity of the wine making process.

So much, the idea of a wine is a simple transaction between picking the prettiest bottle at the store that matches the particular price we want to spend to bring the bottle to an event. However, with wine tasting in Napa, I was struck – perhaps fully and for the first time – by how rich and in-depth the wine making process actually is. For a winery to have the specific intention to harvest crops at night, by hand, to understand the delicate nature of the grape itself – is absolutely incredible.

Cabernet Sauvignon

We continued to our next room, where I sampled the Cakebread Cellars’ 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon – Benchland Select – from Napa Valley.

This particular effort was barrel aged – and was brilliant.

Continuing my questions, I asked Sam on her opinon regarding the perfect temperature to store wines. She stated that their cellar temps are from 50 – 55 degrees with the bottles stored on their sides. Like sensitive people, wine likes to be undisturbed.

I then – of course – asked her for her recommendations for when she’s not at Cakebread Cellars. The suggestions came fast and quick. For outstanding Zinfandels, Sam recommended Robert Biale Vineyards. As she specifically loves sparkling wines, she also highlighted the selection at Schramsberg Vineyards in Calistoga.

In Sonoma, Sam recommended I visit Jacuzzi Family Vineyards along with Cline Family Cellars.

As for food suggestion in Napa, she highly recommend Celadon, The Waterfront Seafood Grill and – the place that I eventually made evening reservations for – Scala Osteria & Bar.

As we walked the grounds, I fell in love with the space.

Concluding the tour at the gift shop, I also tasted the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon – Vaca – from Napa Valley; 2022 Apple Barn Vineyard Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley; the 2021 Syrah – from Suscol Springs Vineyard – in Napa Valley and the 2023 Vin de Porche Rose from Anderson Valley.

After a few tastings, I ended up purchasing bottles of the 2021 Chardonnay Reserve from Carneros and the 2022 Annahala Ranch Pinot Noir. And, because the airline I flew with has a ship wine free policy, I also asked about and was able to purchase a wine shipment box to effortlessly transport the wines – and beers from my tasting experience at Russian River Brewing from the previous day – with me back on my flight to Los Angeles.

I truly do not think that a more perfectly designed experience could have been had for me on that day. To start my day with a bagel and coffee in the Marina District of San Francisco to a private wine tasting and tour at Cakebread Cellars?

Yes. Please. More. Thank you.

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