Beautiful scenery and outstanding wine! Cakebread Cellars wine is excellent and the property is amazing. Over 30 years ago, Jack Cakebread came to photograph the Napa Valley and studied with Ansell Adams and while here, he casually mentioned his interest in one day owning a vineyard to some family friends who had a ranch in Rutherford. When he returned home that afternoon, the phone rang and it was the family friends offering to sell their property. He headed back up to the valley that same afternoon to make his best offer ($800/acre), and Cakebread Cellars was born.Although it was raining we still had a great time. I was hoping for food after 8 hours on the plane, but they didn't have any. There are a couple of restaurants close by. Cakebread is a small family owned winery that produces some of the top wines in the Napa Valley. If you are looking to try Cakebread in DC, head to Old Ebbitt. The staff is highly knowledgable and friendly. I would recommend that you make a visit soon!
Tasting room fee: $10 Appointment Needed
Wine price range: $25-$105
8300 Saint Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 963-5222
Just to clarify, my dad studied with Ansel during workshops up in Yosemite. He was in the Napa Valley on an assignement to take photos for one of the first wine books on California wine to be published, and stopped by to visit some old family friends that owned 22 acres there in the heart of the Napa Valley. They worked a deal to buy the land, and that's how Cakebread Cellars got started. But you can't forget that the family business at the time was auto repair at Cakebread's Garage in Oakland that my grandfather started in 1927. -Dennis
ReplyDeleteThanks! Hope to visit again soon!
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