Cardinale Estate is a winery located in Oakville, California, which is a short drive off of Highway 29. The winery was founded in 1981 and is now owned by Jackson Family Wines. Cardinale is known for producing a single Cabernet Sauvignon each vintage, with smaller amounts of Merlot in the blend. The winery is located on top of a small hill and is visible from the highway, with a stone building that is both elegant and classic in its appearance.
The hospitality center and winery at Cardinale are located upstairs, with the physical winery located directly below. There is also a production facility located towards the back of the property, which is large by Napa standards and houses a number of Jackson Family-owned wines. This facility also has a sizable underground barrel room, which is covered in grass on its roof.
Cardinale sources its grapes from the nearby Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges, with a focus on grapes from hillsides and bench-land locations. These include well-known appellations such as Diamond Mountain, Spring Mountain, Howell Mountain, and Mount Veeder. Although the winery is surrounded by acres of grapes growing on the valley floor, none of this fruit is used in the Cardinale wine. Instead, it is sold to other wineries.
After fermentation, all of the wine at Cardinale is aged in 100% tightly grained New French Oak. The goal is to create big, refined, and elegant vintages that can be consumed now or aged for even more flavor. The wine is bottled unfiltered for maximum flavor and color with minimal fining. Typical production of this wine varies from 2,000 to 4,000 cases annually, and it is selectively distributed nationally, often at fine dining establishments.
Visits to Cardinale Estate are by appointment only and include a tasting of a Sauvignon Blanc called Intrada, followed by a La Jota W.S Keyes Merlot and two vintages of Cardinale – a current release and a library wine (often 10 years old). These wines are paired with small bites and cheeses prepared by the winery’s culinary team. The tasting takes place in a guest room with tables adjacent to the actual tasting counter, which offers stunning views to the north and west on a clear day. A telescope is also available for closer viewing of the surrounding area. If the weather is nice, visitors are encouraged to take a few minutes to enjoy the views from the outdoor patio.
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Wei-Ai Tai
a month agoTruly amazing wine tasting experience at a beautiful winery. Chef Justin created several delicious dishes to pair with the wonderful bottles of Cabernet, and our host Jake was very knowledgeable and we learned so much from him. Can’t wait to come back once the renovations are completed!
Andrew Siegel
a year agoA premier wine experience! Cardinale does one thing and they do it extremely well. Their cab blends are full bodied and built to last. The experience was one of the most refined I’ve ever had. No tour, no extra splashes, no special additions, just three vintages of their signature cab blend. The do pair it with an incredible array of cheeses, savory crackers, duck breast!, marinated mushrooms, and a savory “fig cookie.” We wish we hadn’t eaten lunch before hand. A special experience but not cheap. And the sell their wines in a 3-pack so expect to pay over $1000 to take some home. But, the tasting alone was worth the price of admission - once.
Ashleigh Jordan
7 years agoLoved this tasting event! We had a wonderful guide to show us through all the great wines they had. A lovely tasting room that I could live in. The patio was beautiful and you could sit there all day if you wanted. Will be back!
Joshua Parrott
5 years agoSmall winery with POWERFUL wines. The 2014 Cabernet is spectacular! Leah was a gracious host and made our experience one to remember. The food pairing was nothing short of amazing. My wife and I will definitely be returning to Cardinale, and are a huge fan of their wines!!
Pamela Crilly
2 years agoJake was absolutely amazing! Such a wonderful experience with wonderful first class wines!