Joe Cafaro and his wife Libby developed a 15 acres vineyard in the eastern hills south of the Stags' Leap appellation in 1996, with the first grapes harvested in 1999. This new vineyard has with the 1999 vintage become the main source of fruit for Cafaro Cellars. However, Cafaro Cellars will continue to purchase grapes from Truchard Vineyards in Carneros, Krupp Vineyard on Atlas Peak and Oakville Ranch in the Oakville appellation. All of these Napa Valley vineyards give complexity and the multi layers that make the Cafaro wines so delicious.

"I consider Cafaro wine my personal statement. It is my intention to make elegant, balanced wines of classic proportions and grace that age well and better, still drink well. Before founding Cafaro Cellars in 1986, I made wine at several small wineries in the Napa Valley (Chappellet, Keenan, Acacia, Robert Sinskey, Oakville Ranch Vineyard and Dalla Valle) and remain a consulting winemaker today. Having worked in the Napa Valley for over 33 years, I know where to find the type of grapes I need to produce the elegant wine. By blending grapes from different regions within the valley, the end result is wines of great depth and complexity. I see my winemaking as traditional in form and modern in execution. I pump the fermenting juice over the cap to extract the most from the fruit, ferment in stainless steel to control temperature and age the young wines in small French and American oak barrels for two years, followed by an additional year in the bottle prior to release." Joe Cafaro

www.cafaro.com

Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Alta
The Alta Tierra, literally “high ground”, is the best of the best from our hillside vineyard. Alta Tierra will be bottled only in the best vintages and from the best wines of that vintage. Our 2001 Napa Valley Alta Tierra is the first release of what we feel is a very delicious and complex wine. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot shows all the high lights of the 2001 vintage. 

 Cabernet Sauvignon
This blend is produced entirely from grapes grown in the Cafaro Family Vineyard. Our hillside vineyard, located on the eastern flank of the Napa Valley, just south of the Stags Leap Appellation, was selected specifically by winemaker Joe Cafaro to cultivate fruit that would yield many layers of aroma and flavor, allowing for the production of wines that offer exceptional concentration even in their youth.

Merlot
All of our wines come from our estate vineyard in the eastern hills just south of the Stags Leap appellation. Having an estate vineyard gives us complete control over every detail growing the grapes to enhance and improve the quality of our wines. The 2002 vintage is very accessible and ready to drink with a wide range of dishes. The flavors and aromas are forward and ripe without being overpowering – a wine that goes with food. There is also a touch of cedar from the oak barrels. The combination of structure, depth and richness makes this 2002 Merlot drinkable now but it could easily age if you can wait. Please enjoy our 2002 Merlot with family and friends

 
Syrah
Many Syrah producers from France, Australia, and California blend a small amount of another grape to add complexity and length to the Syrah. Cafaro believes that Petit Verdot adds this complexity. It is not only an exciting vintage but also showcases the high quality level and potential of the Cafaro Family Vineyard. The 2001 Cafaro Napa Valley Syrah is deep, rich, dark and very complex. At the same time it is elegant with balanced complexity to go with many dishes. The oak and grape tannins are in perfect harmony with the youthful Syrah aromas and finishes long and multi-layered. 490 cases produced