Cakebread Cellars

Jack and Dolores Cakebread purchased the 22-acre Sturdivant Ranch in Rutherford in 1972, establishing Cakebread Cellars the following year. Their first release, just 157 cases of 1973 Chardonnay, set the tone for a winery built on quality and restraint. The 1974 Cabernet Sauvignon followed as the second vintage. Sons Bruce and Dennis joined full-time operations in the late 1970s, and the winery has remained family-owned and operated ever since, with Bruce serving as President and winemaker before Stephanie Jacobs took over winemaking duties.

• Original Rutherford property purchased 1972; winery founded 1973
• First vintage: 157 cases of 1973 Chardonnay
• Second vintage: 1974 Cabernet Sauvignon
• Bruce and Dennis Cakebread joined full-time in the late 1970s

Cakebread Cellars manages approximately 1,600 acres of vineyard holdings, with around 600 acres under vine across 18 unique sites. These span 11 different Napa Valley sub-appellations including Rutherford, Oakville, Carneros, Calistoga, Stag's Leap, and Howell Mountain, plus one site in Anderson Valley. The range of elevations is dramatic, from sea level in Carneros to 1,450 to 1,600 feet at Dancing Bear Ranch on Howell Mountain. Soils vary just as widely, from loamy valley floor soils in Carneros and Anderson Valley to volcanic rocky hillsides and nutrient-rich valley floor soils in Rutherford.

• 18 unique vineyard sites spanning Napa Valley and Anderson Valley
• Elevations range from sea level (Carneros) to 1,600 feet (Howell Mountain)
• Soils include loam, volcanic rock, and nutrient-rich valley floor types
• Climates range from cool maritime in Carneros to warm valley floor in Rutherford

Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the winery's defining varieties, though the portfolio extends to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Grenache across more than 12 wine types. The house style emphasizes balance, elegance, and food-friendliness, with mineral complexity and bright acidity as guiding principles. Winemaking techniques include nocturnal harvesting and individual block fermentation, preserving freshness and terroir expression across diverse vineyard sites.

• Signature varieties: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon
• Portfolio spans 12+ varieties including Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel
• Nocturnal harvesting and block-by-block fermentation used to preserve freshness
• Dancing Bear Ranch single-vineyard Howell Mountain wine first released 2006

Sustainability has been central to Cakebread Cellars since its earliest years. The winery was the second in Napa Valley to achieve Napa Green certification, earning the designation in 2008. All Cakebread-owned vineyards carry fish-friendly certification, and the winery participates in the International Wineries for Climate Action initiative. Cakebread has also received the California Green Medal Award in recognition of its ongoing sustainability commitment.

• Second winery to earn Napa Green certification (2008)
• All estate vineyards certified fish-friendly
• Participant in International Wineries for Climate Action
• California Green Medal Award recipient

Food and wine pairing sits at the heart of the Cakebread Cellars identity. The winery maintains a culinary garden on the estate and established the American Harvest Workshop as an annual event, bringing together chefs, farmers, and winemakers to celebrate the connection between food and wine. These programs reflect the founders' vision of wine as an integral part of the table rather than a standalone pursuit.

• American Harvest Workshop established as an annual culinary event
• On-site culinary garden supports food and wine pairing programming
• Events connect chefs, farmers, and winemakers