Cakebread Cellars

Founding Timeline and Current Leadership

Jack and Dolores Cakebread founded the winery in 1973. They purchased their Rutherford ranch in 1972. The first wine was a 1973 Chardonnay released in 1974; land purchase, founding, vintage, and release all fell within three years.

Niki Williams is the current winemaker. Dennis Cakebread serves as Chairman of the Board, while Jessica Luke Baumgartner directs vineyard operations. The current structure separates winemaking from vineyard operations, with board leadership distinct from both.

Choose a Tasting by Time and Focus

Classic Tasting is a guided walking tour priced at USD 50 per person and lasting 60 minutes. Courtyard Tasting is private, costs USD 65, and lasts 75 minutes. The first suits guests who want movement through the property; the second exchanges the walk for a private setting and an additional quarter hour.

Wine and Food Tasting pairs wines with seasonal small plates for USD 125 per person. Reserve Library Tasting combines current and library vintages with seasonal bites, costs USD 100, and lasts 90 minutes. One centers the food pairing; the other makes vintage comparison the main reason to choose a longer visit.

The five formats divide the visit by walking, courtyard access, food pairing, library vintages, or family access. Prices and durations separate the adult tastings, while the age exception makes the Family Tasting the route for mixed-age groups.

Appointments, Ages, and the Club Lounge

All tastings operate by appointment, and advance booking is encouraged. The Family Tasting begins daily at 10:00. Guests must be 21 for other experiences, making the family session the relevant route when a party includes younger visitors.

The Wine Club Lounge accepts prior reservations from 10:00 to 15:00, Thursday through Monday. Those hours belong to the lounge rather than the winery as a whole. Wine-club access and shipping continue the relationship after a Rutherford visit.

Varieties and the Rutherford Setting

Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, and Grenache span white, red, and Rhône varieties. That breadth moves the cellar story well beyond its first Chardonnay. It also gives wine-focused visitors several possible reference points before choosing a tasting centered on current releases, food, or library vintages.

The winery sits in Rutherford within the Napa Valley AVA at 8300 St Helena Highway. Vineyard and garden views accompany experiences that can include a historic building, barrel room, vineyard tour, estate grounds, garden, and private tasting. Smart-casual dress and a conversational noise level suit an appointment built around discussion and movement through the property.

Group Fit and External Recognition

Wine education, group outings, family visits, romantic getaways, and special occasions all fit the winery. A private tasting gives a small party more separation, while the Family Tasting addresses mixed-age groups. Vineyard tours and estate grounds make a visit more active than a seated pour alone.

Falstaff recognized the winery as “Falstaff Winery - Listed” in 2026. For visitors, that recognition is secondary to the concrete choice among a walking tour, food pairing, library tasting, and mixed-age family session.

Contact, Sourcing, and Continuing Access

Advance coordination matters because the winery operates at small capacity and all tastings require appointments. The phone number is +1 800-588-0298, and the official website provides a second direct contact point while guests select a session.

Sustainable practices are part of the winery’s sourcing profile. Shipping serves distance, while wine-club access creates a recurring way to return to the range after a Rutherford visit.