Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley’s Signature Red Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon is the acknowledged king of red grapes in Napa Valley, valued for power, structure, age-worthiness and a wide range of vineyard expression.
50% Total Production
- Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 50% of Napa Valley wine production and 68% of crop value.
55% Napa Valley Plantings
- It is the most widely planted variety in Napa Valley and is grown throughout the region.
10-20+ Years of Cellar Life
- Small grapes and thick skins provide deep color and tannin, key components for age-ability.
This variety achieves a range of expression depending on its vineyard site. Its flavors display a wide variety of black fruits, including currant, cherry and plum, and often show notes of spice from oak aging.
On the palate these wines can be dense and powerful in youth, but age gracefully. When young, they are best matched with robust red meat dishes such as game and braised lamb, while older Cabernets are superb accompaniments to simply prepared roasts, steaks and aged cheese.
Primary Notes
Wine Style
Serving Tips
Serving Temp.
60-68°F (16-20°C)
Decant Time
1-2 hours
Cellar Life
10-20+ years
Suggested Pairings
Roasted meats, steak, hearty stews, BBQ ribs, burgers, pizza, mushroom risotto, aged cheese, pasta, dark chocolate and other rich chocolatey desserts.
Growing Cabernet in Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in well-drained soils and performs best in moderate to warm temperatures, producing an array of styles across Napa Valley.
In the Vineyard
- Grown in every part of Napa Valley.
- Mid to late ripening variety.
- Northern Napa Valley sits at the warmer end of the spectrum, while some parts of Carneros are considered too cool.
- Mountain appellations are distinctive from the valley floor and benchlands, where Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena hold a high concentration of Cabernet Sauvignon plantings.
History
Cabernet Sauvignon is a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc, introduced to California in the 1880s. In Napa Valley, records show Gustave Niebaum had planted Cabernet Sauvignon at his Inglenook property by 1883.
Also in the 1880s, H.W. Crabb, one of the country’s foremost vine nurserymen, gave the St. Helena Star a list of his bounty that included Cabernet Sauvignon. Other areas were planted as well, including vineyards on Spring Mountain and Howell Mountain, which would develop a world-class reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
After Prohibition, less than 100 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon remained. The modern legacy of fine Cabernet Sauvignon winemaking grew from wineries such as Louis M. Martini, Charles Krug, Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyard, then accelerated after the 1976 Judgment of Paris.
Winemaking
Napa Valley wineries produce a wide range of Cabernet Sauvignon wines and styles, but certain trends exist. Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested at low yields of 2 to 5 tons per acre and generally between 24 and 28 Brix, a measurement of sugar accumulation in grapes.
The fruit is sorted, cold-soaked and fermented in steel, oak or concrete tanks. The wine is most often left to macerate on its skins for an additional 1 to 3 weeks before it is pressed and placed into French oak barrels, typically 50% to 100% new, for 12 to 24 months.
NAPA Magazine
Read more about the Cabernet Sauvignon wines of Napa Valley in NAPA magazine.
Recipes
Beef Wellington
Andrew Holloway, associate winemaker at Rombauer Vineyards, concocted the idea of a pre-Christmas beef Wellington dinner tradition. In the weeks before Christmas, the winemaking team gathers with their families to enjoy this proper British dish.
View Recipe
Cabernet Braised Shortribs with Swiss Chard and Orecchiette
Winter in wine country is a time to relax and to bring people around the table with a soul-satisfying meal such as this.
View Recipe
Flourless Chocolate Cake with Cabernet Sauvignon and Dried Cherry Sauce
The combination of the dried cherry Cabernet Sauvignon sauce with this flourless chocolate cake is a very grown-up way to end a meal. Please note that both the cake and the sauce need to be started a day in advance.
View RecipePremiere Napa Valley
Discover some of Napa Valley’s most unique Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the Premiere Napa Valley wine portfolio, created only once and made in small quantities for the Premiere Napa Valley wine auction.
Wineries
A rotating sample of Napa Valley wineries featuring Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Quintessa 2009 ‘Faust’ Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2009 Faust is a benchmark example of Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine opens with aromas of
red and black cherries, ripe raspberry, hints of violets and a lovely perfume. A lush, full entry on the palate with blackberry, cassis, coffee and dark chocolate flavors leads to a rich, supple mouthfeel. A complex finish with dark fruit lingers in the mouth. The wine continually evolves in the glass, making it worthy of another taste.
Teachworth Winery 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
This vintage shines as an outstanding example of mountain Cabernet Sauvignon with strong, tactile tannins backing up brooding, dark bramble and big red berry flavors. Supporting blue fruit characters, plum, currant and toasty nuances complement the solid structure and minerality and with a persistent finish.
View Winery Profile
Pope Valley Winery 2023 ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon
A wonderful example of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with a wonderful year
View Winery Profile
WaterMark Wine 2022 ‘ Corilan Vineyards’ Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine is deep and luscious with a dark ruby color and strong fruit aromas. The wine exhibits cassis & dark fruit, rasberry & chocolate complimented by vanilla and smoky oak tones. Rich mouthfeel. long finish
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