Schrader Cellars
Schrader Cellars
Schrader Cellars is a true icon of Napa Valley and has now received the maximum score of 100 points more than 35 times from leading wine critics. As such, the estate ranks among the most highly awarded wineries in the world, and its wines are among the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignons globally.
Founder Fred Schrader decided he wanted to make wine himself in 1988 while attending the famous Napa Valley Wine Auction. A few years later, together with his wife Ann Colgin, he founded his first winery, Colgin Schrader Cellars, which released its first wine in 1992. After their marriage ended, Ann retained ownership of the estate, which continued under the name Colgin Cellars, while Fred forged his own path in 1998 with the creation of Schrader Cellars.
From the outset, he appointed the exceptionally talented Thomas Rivers Brown as winemaker and consultant. Today, Thomas is involved with more than forty wineries and also runs his own estate, Rivers-Marie, in Sonoma. Despite these numerous projects, he has remained the defining winemaker at Schrader Cellars for more than two decades.
Schrader Cellars focuses exclusively on Cabernet Sauvignon, producing several highly distinctive cuvées. The winery works primarily with fruit from the renowned Beckstoffer Vineyards, particularly from the iconic To Kalon Vineyard. Schrader holds long-term contracts for some of Napa Valley’s most prestigious vineyards, all owned by Beckstoffer. Since its acquisition by Constellation Brands in 2017, Schrader has also gained access to To Kalon fruit owned by the Robert Mondavi Winery.
Due to the wide range of bottlings, the portfolio can at times seem complex. The underlying philosophy, however, is clear: Schrader aims to demonstrate how different Cabernet clones express themselves within a single vineyard or even within individual parcels. In addition, wines are produced from fruit sourced from specific blocks across various top vineyards.
The core of the portfolio is the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, arguably the most legendary Cabernet terroir in the entire Napa Valley. From here come, among others, the RBS and CCS cuvées, sourced from different parcels within To Kalon.
Other Beckstoffer vineyards vinified by Schrader include Georges III Vineyard (GIII) in Rutherford and Las Piedras Vineyard (LPV) in St. Helena. From Las Piedras also comes the Colesworthy Selection, an assemblage of the finest barrels from clone 337.
In exceptional vintages, the very best barrels from Beckstoffer To Kalon are selected for the iconic wine Old Sparky, bottled exclusively in magnum. From the Stags Leap District, vinified from clone 685, comes the distinctly mineral Wappo Hill, noted for its unmistakable graphite nuances.
In addition to these wines, Schrader also produces Double Diamond, a more accessible line composed of a blend of multiple vineyards, while still maintaining very high quality. Notably, Schrader Cellars’ Double Diamond was named “Wine of the Year 2022” by the renowned magazine Wine Spectator.
The style of Schrader Cellars is powerful and rich, with ripe fruit and opulent, silky textures. What truly sets the wines apart from many other Napa producers is the extraordinary purity of fruit, combined with concentration, precision, and balance. They are impressively powerful yet simultaneously elegant and refined. While the wines can easily age for 15 to 20 years, they are also highly appealing in their youth thanks to their expressive character.
Today, Master Sommelier Jason Smith serves as general manager of Schrader Cellars. A Master Sommelier leading a prestigious winery is a rarity, aside from Larry Stone at Lingua Franca, such examples are few and far between. Together with Thomas Rivers Brown, he forms an exceptionally strong team that continues to distinguish Schrader Cellars through uncompromising quality and the highest standards in winemaking and grape selection.
As a result, Schrader Cellars remains firmly among the absolute elite of Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley, and securing an allocation is a true rarity.
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