In the heart of Napa Valley is the beautiful winery Gallica, founded by Rosemary Cakebread, also the passionate winemaker. Gallica's first vintage dates back to 2007, but Rosemary had already gained considerable experience, including as a winemaker at Spottswoode.
Born in America, Rosemary grew up in Tokyo and returned to California as a teenager. This transition from the bustling metropolis of Tokyo to the quiet countryside of America was challenging, but Rosemary soon found her way. She also began earning extra at the Sebastiani family winery, where here interest in wine was born. This led her to decide to study viticulture and oenology at UCDavis University in California.
After her education, she worked at such renowned names as Inglenook and Domaine Mumm, eventually becoming responsible for Spottswoode's wines in 1997. This winery is a pioneer in organically grown fruit in Napa Valley. Here Rosemary gained a reputation for exceptional consistency in wine production, crafting her wines with respect for nature, with wonderful balance and finesse.
In 2006, Rosemary took a sabbatical year in Bordeaux, where she worked with the legendary Michel Rolland at Château Le Bon Pasteur. Here she realized the time was ripe for her own winery, and so Gallica was born.
In St. Helena, Napa Valley, Rosemary created an oasis of tranquility surrounded by her certified organic vineyards and olive trees. The inaugural Gallica wine, a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, immediately received an impressive score of 99 points from Robert Parker.
Since then, Rosemary has expanded its range to include small-batch Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Albariño. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah come directly from its own organic vineyards. Rosemary continues to consistently produce high-quality wines, as evidenced by annual rave reviews from Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson and Antoni Galloni.
Read more