Founded by Fred Schrader in 1998, Schrader Cellars has swiftly become one of the most respected names in Napa Valley, renowned for its single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. At the core of Schrader’s success is the legendary To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, widely recognised as one of Napa's premier sources of Cabernet grapes.
In the heart of Napa Valley lies Joseph Phelps Vineyards, a winery that I fell in love with during a visit in 2004, while conducting research for a book on North American wines. Unlike many other estates, Joseph Phelps had a human touch, an absence of corporate sterility that left a lasting impression. Here, the emphasis was on genuine care and the people who worked there.
If I were to compare Napa Valley, one of the gems of the American west coast, to a piece of high jewellery, it would be an IF diamond. Flawless is reserved for only the finest, purest and best, and like every wine-growing region, there are exceptional to mediocre estates.
