Shafer Vineyards
Shafer Vineyards
AboutShafer Vineyards
John Shafer left a Chicago publishing career in 1972 to establish a winery on a hillside in what is now Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District. The first estate Cabernet Sauvignon was made in 1978; Doug Shafer became winemaker in 1983, and Elias Fernandez joined the following year.
Its vineyards span Stags Leap District and Carneros, with Cabernet Sauvignon on the hillsides around the winery and Chardonnay in southern Napa’s cooler vineyards. Hillside Select, its flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, comes from selected estate blocks and spends an extended period ageing in French oak. Work in the vineyards and winery includes water conservation, solar power and habitat protection.
Shafer Vineyards 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
American Red
Blackcurrant, berry fruit, roasted pepper, olive and white chocolate form a ripe, generous profile, with polished oak adding warmth. The palate is soft and plush, its abundant fruit carried by graceful tannins rather than hard edges. Silky texture and savoury detail keep the Cabernet balanced through an open, lingering finish.
Shafer Vineyards 2014 Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay
American White
A powerful Napa Chardonnay with green mango, lemon and a light custard note. The palate is full-bodied and intensely creamy, though tangy acidity keeps the richness in focus and carries the wine into a long, energetic finish. Bold but balanced, it suits roast chicken, lobster, halibut or vegetables served with a gentle cream sauce.