Tag: cabernet sauvignon

In 1961, Joe and Alice Heitz purchased their first vineyard of eight acres just south of St. Helena, with the belief that a lot of hard work would make their American dream of owning a successful family business come true. This year, Heitz Wine Cellars celebrates its 55th anniversary as a family-owned winery that is now three generations strong. The Heitz family’s vineyards now encompass more than 400 acres throughout Napa Valley, located in six appellations.

With each passing vintage, the wines of family-owned Cliff Creek Cellars attract national accolades that further confirm Vern Garvin’s excellent decision to build one more business at the age of 70.

In the early 1990s, Vern took ownership of a 100-year-old Rogue Valley farm dedicated to growing grasses and grazing cattle. He selected 15 acres for his first grapevine planting and broke ground in 1999, founding Sam’s Valley Vineyard, nestled in the foothills of the region’s majestic Table Rocks.

Although he grew up in a family that has been making wine for six generations, it wasn’t until 1996 that Steven Kent Mirassou brought his love of great Cabernet Sauvignon to the Livermore Valley and started The Steven Kent Winery, with the singular focus of crafting the very best possible Bordeaux wines.

Actually, Cabernet was anything but new to the Livermore Valley; it had grown there successfully since the late 1800s. But, inspired by the climate and soils of Livermore Valley, Steven wanted to raise the bar. And he did.

A family legacy spanning four generations and more than 100 years provides the backbone for RoxyAnn Winery. Its 70-acre estate vineyard is situated on a portion of the Rogue Valley’s famed 200-acre Hillcrest Orchard, which has been farmed by Jack Day’s family since 1908. The orchard was dedicated to the production of pears until Jack, a member of the family’s third generation, decided to pursue his vision of growing winegrapes on the property.

Aptly named "Etude" after the classical music term for a focused study or technical exercise to perfect technique, Etude Wines is dedicated to mastering the craft of winegrowing. The winery was founded more than 30 years ago on the belief that great wines are grown and not made. This philosophy continues today with Winemaker Jon Priest and Associate Winemaker Rob Fischer.

Savvy Cabernet Sauvignon lovers planning a tour of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley always put Tara Bella Winery on their lists. This little jewel totals only six acres, but it produces some of the region’s finest Cabernet Sauvignons. The proof is in the Gold medals. Nearly every vintage has produced at least one.

The winery is owned by husband and wife team Kevin and Wendy Morrow, who met and fell in love more than 29 years ago while working in the wine industry. Together, they created a small private label, TwoMorrows, which has received many Golds and a Sweepstakes medal.

For lovers of Cabernet and other Bordeaux varietals, Paso Robles, California, is a fascinating new frontier. I say this with confidence, because I recently participated in a side-by-side tasting of eight Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignons. Very impressive! Each of the eight wines was produced by a winery that’s joined the Paso Robles CAB Collective, a nonprofit group of leading Paso Robles growers and producers of Cabernet and red Bordeaux varietals. This group’s goal is to work as a team to produce superior quality, classic, and age-worthy wines that compete on a global stage.