This Napa Valley Chardonnay Stalwart Names All-Female Winemaking Team
Today we close out Women's History Month 2024 with a spotlight on a classic Napa Valley winery that is flourishing with a trifecta of female winemaking talent. At Cakebread Cellars the glass ceiling is being broken, as they have named an all female winemaking team in 2024. The new direction brings together three powerhouse winemakers to push beyond the sheen of the winery's 50th anniversary, celebrated in 2023. In an industry that traditionally moves at a snail's pace with respect to change, this is a testament to the culture of evolution and importance of women's impact in the wine industry of today and tomorrow. The future—of Cakebread Cellars and the industry in general—is certainly female.
Courtesy of Cakebread Cellars
In 1973 Cakebread Cellars released 157 cases of their 1973 Chardonnay out into the world. The Napa Valley was soon to be put on the world's stage with the 1976 Judgement of Paris, in which Cakebread's 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon was included. The historical significance of this event continues to play out today in the landscape dominated by the prowess and collectability of Napa Valley wines. The stakes have never been higher for a family-owned winery in Napa to make forward-thinking decisions, and that's just what we are witnessing from the visionaries at Cakebread.
Niki Williams, winemaker of Cakebread Cellars
Courtesy of Cakebread Cellars
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Cakebread is proud to introduce their all-female winemaking team in 2024, led by Niki Williams, Sally Johnson Blum, and Jane Dunkley. These three incredible winemakers bring over 35 years of experience to the table, marking a poignant & significant shift—not just for Cakebread—but for the entire wine industry.
The move to an all-female winemaking team pays strong homage to co-founder, Dolores Cakebread, who passed away peacefully at the age of 90 in October of 2020. Dolores created the stunning garden on the property, and authored two cookbooks with Culinary Director Brian Streeter: The Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Cookbook; and The Cakebread Cellars American Harvest Cookbook. Dolores also served as president of Les Dames d'Escoffier's San Francisco Chapter, and was a member of the Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the San Francisco Professional Food Society.
Courtesy of Cakebread Cellars
"I feel fortunate to work as a winemaking team with Jane and Sally because we are very supportive of each other. We openly share our collective knowledge, experience and ideas, and we are all very dedicated to learning and improving as winemakers. Jane and Sally are exceptionally talented winemakers who are very humble, authentic and grounded, and we have established a lot of mutual respect and trust. It’s so helpful and rewarding to taste our wines together because we share honest feedback while still being each other’s biggest fans." -Niki Williams, Winemaker, Cakebread Cellars:
"Our all-female winemaking team is very collaborative, and that dynamic is rooted in mutual respect, shared expertise and a collective drive for innovation. Our strength lies in both our ability to craft exceptional wines and weave our unique perspectives and backgrounds together to enrich the entire winemaking process. This type of environment sets a great precedent for inclusivity and mentorship within the wine industry, and we hope our team serves as a point of inspiration for other aspiring female winemakers to pursue their passions and contribute their voices." -Sally Johnson Blum, Winemaker, Mullan Road Cellars & Cakebread Cellars
"For me, having so many women in production at Cakebread Cellars on both the viticulture and winemaking sides has been the icing on the cake of my career. Working with Sally and Niki and being able to learn, share knowledge, and uplift each other highlights the best of our industry." -Jane Dunkley, Winemaker, Bezel Wines & Cakebread Cellars
