The History of Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa

The 1700s

Grapevines in Napa date as far back as the 1700s, when missionary Father Junipero Serra planted vineyards at the nine missions he founded throughout the region. Housing a mix of grapes and varietals, these vineyards were entirely functional, producing wine for religious purposes. This mix of field grapes became known as Mission Grapes and would be the foundation of California wine for decades.

The 1800s

George Calvert Yount (yes, that’s Yount as in Yountville) is credited with planting the first dedicated Napa Valley vineyards in 1839 but it would take another twenty years for the wine business to bloom in California. In 1861, the first commercial winery was established by Charles Krug. Its early success ushered in a wave of growth over the next decade or so. In 1876, the Beringer winery was opened, followed by Inglenook in 1879. Between the years of 1880–1890 planting went from 3,500 acres of vineyards to more than 18,500 acres and the number of wineries grew to close to 200.

The first Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were introduced to the area during this period as well, in what was called Hedgeside Vineyards, by Morris Estee. America was obsessed with Bordeaux wines at the time and Napa winemakers sought to take advantage by importing the grapes from Bordeaux and learning French winemaking techniques. Inglenook took the lead when it came to expert production of French-style Cabernet Sauvignons, with their wine winning a Gold Medal at the Paris World Fair in 1889. First-class passengers of the Canadian Pacific Railway were enjoying Inglenook wines in their dining cars— just as you can on your Wine Train journey!

Post-Prohibition: A New Era for Napa

As soon as prohibition was repealed, some of what would become Napa’s most recognizable names got to work. Inglenook was reopened, Louis M. Martini built a state-of-the-art winery, and the Mondavi family arrived in Napa, purchasing the Charles Krug winery and vineyards.

In 1944, seven of the region’s most dedicated winemakers formed the Napa Valley Vintners Association, recognizing that Napa wine would be better if its producers worked together. Today the association boasts a membership of more than 500 wineries.

The Paris Tasting

Napa Valley arrived on the world stage in 1976 at what would become known infamously as “The Judgement of Paris”. An English wine merchant held a blind tasting in Paris with France’s top wine critics on May 24, 1976. Stag’s Leap 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon and Chateau Montelena’s 1973 Chardonnay, both out of California, earned top prizes and astonished the wine world. This ushered in a new era for Napa Valley, which is now the third-largest global producer of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2000s

Today there are over 400 wineries in the Napa Valley and 16 AVAs—American Viticultural Areas. Between the subtle varieties in terroir and the difference in climates between floor and hillside vineyards, there’s a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for every palate. The lush, fruit-forward “floor” wines are loved by critics and make for excellent drinking and the earthier, more rustic wines grown on hillside vineyards age impeccably.

Do you have a favorite Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon? Purchase it from our wine shop. For insight into the process behind Napa’s acclaimed wines, join us aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train for one-of-a-kind journeys into Napa’s winemaking past and to get up close and personal with the winemakers shaping its future.