Cake cellars
To honor 50 years of winemaking at the family-owned Cakebread Cellars, the winery is celebrating this year. Located in the bucolic town of Rutherford, California, the owners have just released a special 50th Anniversary Chardonnay Collection to honor this historic year. They also have special events planned throughout the year focusing on Chardonnay and other wine varieties.
When Jack and Dolores Cakebread founded the winery in the early 1970s, they planted Chardonnay grapes. After the harvest, they made their first 157 cases of Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay. Today the winery continues to focus on winemaking and culinary excellence, in addition to sustainability.
Co-owner and board member Bruce Cakebread expresses his gratitude: “We are very fortunate to be celebrating 50 years. It only makes sense to celebrate with Chardonnay, as it was the first variety produced by Cakebread Cellars, and a favorite of the our parents. This special release tells the story of Cakebread Cellars, the vineyards and the winemaking practices we have developed since our founding, which we will continue to refine over the next 50 years.”
Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay Selection 50th Anniversary
The launch of their 50th Anniversary Chardonnay Collection features a series of four bottles of unique 100% estate grown wines. Each reflects the clonal, climate and terroir of the vineyard from which the grapes were harvested. As a tribute to the founder, Jack Cakebread, each wine label features a different photograph taken by an Ansel Adams-trained photographer.
These four Chardonnays are from vineyards in the Napa Carneros AVA, an appellation that creates the classic Cakebread Cellars Chardonnays. They include Cuttings Wharf, Foster Road, Milton Road and Tinsley.
Chairman of the board and co-owner Dennis Cakebread shares: “Our anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate our history and share new opportunities and experiences with all the customers and business partners who have supported us over the past 50 years. Many have become great friends We are proud of our past and excited about all that lies ahead for Cakebread Cellars, from innovations in winemaking and sustainability to new offerings and newly owned vineyards, including our recent acquisition of vineyards in the Napa Carneros AVA.”
Cake cellars
Visitors will appreciate Cakebread’s newly remodeled, modern design tasting room, which offers multiple areas to learn about and appreciate luxury wines. Take a guided tour or sit in a private or communal setting to learn more about the award-winning wines.
Since Cakebread Cellars is Napa Green certified, the Sustainability Wines and Vines Tour is a guided wine tour through the home vineyards where Sauvignon Blanc, Semilion and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grow. Learn about the recovered and reused materials used, and the conservation of water and energy in the vineyards. Entering the production facility, guests will taste four current release wines and learn how each was made. This 90-minute tour and tasting is from Thursday to Monday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The Library Tasting is for collectors and fans looking to taste the best wines from the family library and some current novelties. The 75-minute experience enlightens participants in a communal tasting experience on how aging can benefit these Napa wines. This tasting experience is offered Thursday through Monday for $100.
Cakebread Cellars Tasting experiences
At the Reserve Library tasting, six selected red and white wines from the family library are served alongside seasonal house-made bites. Learn about the evolution and longevity of each wine during this 90-minute tasting experience. Reservations are available Thursday through Monday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The cost of this special tasting is $100.
The Classic Wine Tasting takes you on an informative walk around a community tasting, showcasing four current releases of red and white wines. This 45-minute experience is ideal for those interested in learning about life in a working winery, while tasting a variety of wines for $50.
Cake cellars
To kick off 2023, Cakebread Cellars expanded its 50-year commitment to quality winemaking and terroir expression with the release of Bezel, a new collection of wines celebrating the Paso Robles AVA in the central coast of California.
This collection includes a Chardonnay (SRP: $25) and a Pinot Noir (SRP: $30) that are currently available in TX, CO, CT and TN with expansion planned in the near future. Bezel joins Mullan Road Cellars, a Washington-based Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP: $45), to complement the offerings in the Cakebread family.
Other 50th anniversary celebration events include Meet the Makers: Red Wine Tasting and Lunch on May 20. They will also have a harvest celebration in the fall. Visitors can enjoy multi-course meals with wine pairings year-round and sign up for a private cooking class.
The tasting room is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Schedule a 50th Anniversary Library Tasting or Classic Pie Bread Tasting to meet knowledgeable wine educators who will share the history of pie cellars, while pouring wines.
Cakebread Cellars also offers off-site hours for private dinners, weddings and celebratory events.
