World Chardonnay Day Celebration with Cakebread Cellars

Today is World Chardonnay Day, and among the meta of current wine drinking that could be a hot button for positive or negative thoughts. Let's focus on the positive. When you think of the crème de la crème of Chardonnay producers in Napa Valley, I'm talking the Mount Rushmore of Chardy Champions...a few strong candidates come to mind. Without question, one of those is Cakebread Cellars. Going for 50+ years and counting, the winery's humble beginnings kicked off when co-founder Jack Cakebread was shooting photos for The Treasury of American Wines coffee table book. He was inspired by the beauty of the Sturdivant Ranch, the location they were shooting that day. Near the end of the shoot Jack made a joking offer to purchase the property, and when he returned home his wife Dolores let him know the offer had been seriously considered. The payday from the coffee table book ended up being used as the downpayment on the property. That was in 1973, and the rest is history.

On May 18th at the hospitality center in Rutherford, Cakebread held their 3rd Annual Chardonnay Day Celebration and I was lucky enough to be in attendance. They welcomed 300 guests to the property with a walk-around tour of their world class Chardonnays from multiple vineyards and vintages. We sampled the 2022 Napa Valley, 2020 Cuttings Wharf Vineyard, 2021 Tinsley Road, and 2020 Reserve before getting to a few heavy hitting red wines that were featured, including the 2019 Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon. Each of the Chardonnays were paired with dishes prepared by Executive Chef Brian Streeter and his culinary team.

A standout of the experience was being given a tour of the winery by Aaron Fishleder , Cakebread Cellars' Vice President of Operations. The most impressive part of the stunning winery in my opinion is the concrete egg hall, an expanding program in Cakebread's winemaking and approach to Chardonnay. As top Chardonnay producers in Napa and Sonoma rely on large percentages of new oak for style, Cakebread is dialing back the oak and finding new avenues to highlight the fruit. As famous Chardonnay brands are fetching mind-blowing sale prices in headline-making ownership changes, Cakebread's ownership has committed to keep the business in the family. They are dedicated to the innovation that's cemented them as stalwart in the Napa Valley. But are they satisfied with their expertise being confined to Napa?

" After 50 years of making Chardonnay around the Napa Valley, we feel comfortable giving ourselves permission to be experts," says Aaron Fishleder, Cakebread Cellars' Vice President of Operations . He continues, "what does that mean? We think it means we can leverage our estate vineyards in Carneros, including the new 200-acres we purchased last year, and push the Chardonnay envelop, showcasing new techniques and ideas . "

In recent years Cakebread's team pushed their limits and extended operations outside of the Napa Valley, forging projects on California's Central Coast and in Washington State.

Bezel Wines are a blend of Cakebread Cellars’ winemaking legacy with the laid-back cool of California's hidden-gem Central Coast region, under the guidance of winemaker Jane Dunkley, who crafts vibrant examples of Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot to enjoy any day of the week.

Mullan Road Cellars was established in 2012, now with winemaker Sally Johnson Blum at the helm. The winery celebrates the spirit of adventure through its Cabernet Sauvignon vintages from Royal Slope—one of Washington State’s newest appellations—that embodies the local wine community’s energy and camaraderie.

With more than 50 years of history written, Cakebread Cellars is owned by a family that is devoted to honoring the legacy they have built, while pushing ahead to ensure there's at least another 50 years of success. Visit cakebread.com to acquire the wines, learn more about the ethos, and keep an eye on upcoming events.