Vineyards

The character of Cakebread Cellars wines is rooted in the diversity of the family’s vineyards in Napa Valley and Anderson Valley. Cool sites influenced by coastal fog, sunlit valley floors and rocky mountain slopes provide different growing conditions for each grape variety. Every vineyard brings its own character to the wines, contributing to their balance and complexity.

Carneros Vineyards

Proximity to San Pablo Bay brings cool air and wind to Carneros, creating ideal conditions for Chardonnay. Cakebread Cellars’ six vineyards here are characterised by predominantly shallow, loamy soils and a long growing season. These conditions help the grapes retain the refreshing acidity that is a hallmark of the winery’s Chardonnay.

Cuttings Wharf Road Vineyard sits on a low ridge in the rolling landscape of Carneros. Vines take root in shallow, loamy soils, while six French Chardonnay clones contribute a range of varietal expressions.

Tinsley Ranch is located in southeastern Carneros. Its Haire loam soils and long, cool growing season favour fresh Chardonnay with a vibrant fruit character.

Milton Road Vineyard lies in the southern part of the appellation. Vines of different ages and a wide selection of Chardonnay clones contribute to the diversity of the fruit. The property also houses one of the beehives that produce the winery’s estate honey.

Foster Road Vineyard is the northernmost of the winery’s Carneros vineyards. Gently sloping hills, a cool, windy climate and loamy soils provide favourable conditions for Chardonnay.

Ahmann Ranch was purchased by the family in 2023. At approximately 85 hectares, it marked the largest vineyard acquisition in the family’s history. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are grown here.

Cassidy Road Vineyard joined the winery’s Carneros holdings in 2021. Once an apple orchard near a railway freight depot, the site is now planted with a variety of Chardonnay clones that contribute to Cakebread Cellars’ signature white wine style.

Suscol Ranches

The three Suscol vineyards lie in the Vaca mountain range, southeast of the town of Napa. Their growing conditions are shaped by varied terrain, rocky soils and the cooling influence of nearby San Pablo Bay.

Arroyo Creek Vineyard is the westernmost of the three. Its varied exposures allow for a range of grape varieties and clones, including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Suscol Springs stretches among rocky outcrops overlooking the valley floor. Well-drained, rocky soils and a cooler climate produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah with balanced acidity and deep, layered flavours.

Suscol Mountain sits above Suscol Springs. Higher elevation, rocky soils and cooler conditions slow ripening, resulting in small berries with concentrated flavours and pronounced tannins.

Anderson Valley Vineyards

Annahala Ranch and Apple Barn were established on former apple orchards along the banks of Anderson Creek, north of Boonville. Anderson Valley’s cool climate is particularly well suited to Pinot Noir. A wide range of clones and rootstocks, together with the distinct conditions at each site, broadens the wines’ palette of flavours and aromas.

Annahala Ranch lies closer to the coast and spends more time under fog. The fruit develops a more delicate expression with floral notes. Alongside Pinot Noir, the vineyard also grows Sauvignon Blanc, while selected blocks are dedicated to white Pinot Noir and rosé wines.

Apple Barn receives longer periods of sunshine, encouraging a fuller, more pronounced fruit character. Although the two vineyards are separated only by a road, each brings a distinct expression to the wines.

Winery Ranches

Three vineyards closely connected to the winery’s history lie nearby: Rutherford Ranch, Oakville Ranch and River Ranch. Warm daytime temperatures and gravelly soils are particularly favourable for Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Rutherford Ranch surrounds the winery between the Napa River and the Mayacamas Mountains. It includes the original property of just under nine hectares purchased by Jack and Dolores Cakebread in 1972.

Oakville Ranch lies farther south, in the neighbouring Oakville appellation, adding to the family’s vineyards on the Napa Valley floor.

River Ranch runs along the banks of the Napa River, completing this group of vineyards close to the winery.

Howell Mountain – Dancing Bear Ranch

Dancing Bear Ranch lies high on the slopes of Howell Mountain in northern Napa Valley, at elevations ranging from approximately 440 to more than 490 metres above sea level. Vines grow in shallow, rocky soils, while slopes facing almost every direction provide diverse ripening conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Some plantings date back to 1999.

The vineyard takes its name from the bears that visited to feast on Merlot grapes. Dennis Cakebread tried to deter them with a music player connected to a motion sensor. The attempt failed, but footage of the bears inspired the name of both the property and its signature wine.

Calistoga – Maple Lane Vineyard

Maple Lane Vineyard sits against the hills of northern Napa Valley, south of Calistoga near the Silverado Trail. Vines take root in fertile, well-drained soils on the valley floor. These conditions give a distinctive character to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc in particular.