Winemaker Notes
Karen Cakebread launched ZIATA Wines in 2008, after marketing Napa Valley and its wines for 20 years. Karen started the brand with two goals in mind: “to create beautifully structured wines that reflect the vineyards they come from, and to be involved in every aspect of making wine.” Named after her beloved mother Mary Annunziata Webb, ZIATA’s collection of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Meteor Cabernet Sauvignon, Mia Madre Red Blend and Oakville Station Cabernet Franc allows Karen to have an outlet for all of her passions. “Choosing where we source our fruit, working closely with our growers and our winemaker, building strong connections with our customers—I love being able to put my personal touch on all of it,” she says.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.