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The PlumpJack Collection of Wineries Celebrates Ten Year Anniversaries of Head Winemakers Aaron Miller, Danielle Cyrot, and Jeff Owens

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Head winemakers at Napa Valley’s iconic PlumpJack Winery, Odette Estate, CADE Estate Winery, and 13th Vineyard by CADE reflect on a decade of achievements

Napa Valley, Calif. (September 29, 2022) – John Conover, Managing Partner of the PlumpJack Collection—a portfolio of award-winning Napa Valley wineries—is pleased to announce the 10-year anniversaries of their head winemakers, Aaron Miller of PlumpJack Estate, Danielle Cyrot of CADE Estate and 13th Vineyard, and Jeff Owens of Odette Estate. This milestone anniversary marks an exciting time as the portfolio continues to build on the legacies and forward-thinking visions of these esteemed winemakers and venerated estates.

“It’s unprecedented looking back at all we’ve accomplished in the last decade since recruiting this incredible team of superstars,” said Conover. “I think 2012 will have to go down in the books as one of the most significant milestones for the PlumpJack Collection of Wineries after they came aboard. We’ve been through a lot since then, and—thanks to Aaron, Danielle, and Jeff—we have come out stronger every time. We look forward to celebrating together every chance we get this year.”

Aaron Miller has shown true dedication to crafting Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon in the PlumpJack style, showcasing the unique soils, terrain, and microclimates of the estate’s 42 acres. Before joining in 2012, Miller, who was already familiar with their wines, was drawn to PlumpJack for being entrepreneurial, innovative, and environmentally conscientious. “I’m still here because these things are true. We are crafting some of the best wines in the world and we aren’t afraid to try something new. We value what the earth has given us and are working to be good stewards of the land,” Miller added.

Under Miller, PlumpJack has been honored with several accolades, including three 100-point Cabernet Sauvignons and two Syrahs in the Top 100 Wines of the World. “These are accomplishments I never imagined I would achieve when I broke into the wine industry. While this recognition is appreciated—even celebrated—I am most proud that I have been able to craft wines that speak of place.”

Danielle Cyrot, one of Napa’s most innovative, sustainability-minded winemakers, has continued to create outstanding, highly rated Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc at CADE, standing tall with the very best in the valley. In 2016, she opened 13th Vineyard by CADE, restoring a historic property dating to 1886 and was the 13th bonded winery in California.

Cyrot also conducted a study with the University of California, Davis, revealing that screw cap closures are a viable, eco-friendly alternative to cork. Her work has helped dismantle the status quo, reframing screw caps as an acceptable closure for high-end wines actively sought out by collectors and defining the next generation of luxury wine packaging.

“When I started in 2012, I wanted to be a part of something that would protect the Napa Valley for future generations. CADE’s commitment to the environment was something not many wineries were doing when I was at UC Davis,” said Cyrot. “I’ve stayed with CADE for 10 years because there is also a commitment to quality that I hadn’t experienced before. We don’t skimp on the things that matter. From how we farm our vineyards to how we make the wine, we always aim to make the best wine possible. The stakes are high, the expectations are high, but that is what makes it challenging and rewarding as a winemaker.”

With a decade behind him, Jeff Owens has guided the style of Odette’s Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon wines, starting with the 100-point inaugural release in 2012. He believes these wines are distinguished by their distinct terroir and the exceptional people who work diligently at every stage of the process, from cultivating vineyard rows to determining final blends. In 2021, Owens officially launched a new wine label under Odette Estate, called Adaptation, offering the perfect entry-point to Odette wines and the broader PlumpJack Collection.

“The Adaptation release was the perfect way to kick off a decade at Odette,” said Owens. “The name itself, Adaptation, is so symbolic of what makes me so proud to do what I do here. It transcends the Cabernet Sauvignon in the bottle—it also represents the PlumpJack Collection of Wineries’ proven ability to stay two steps ahead of every curve. Whether bottling 100-point wine under sustainable screwcaps before any other Napa Valley winery or building the first Gold LEED-certified winery in California at CADE Estate, the PlumpJack team isn’t afraid to be the first to adapt, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

In celebration of the three winemakers’ anniversaries, PlumpJack Estate, Odette Estate, and CADE Estate are hosting a special, limited-time Reserve Library Tasting Experience. Held for two weekends from October 13th through October 17th and December 8th through December 12th, guests will have the rare opportunity to taste a retrospective of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons—their most coveted, sought-after wines—from the last 10 years from each estate. Accompanying the wines will be a curated cheese plate and hand-crafted chocolates. The tasting experience is offered at $225 per guest ($175 for wine club members). There will be a limited number of Reserve wines for purchase at the tasting rooms. For more information or to reserve a spot, please visit: https://www.plumpjackcollection.com/visit.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, The PlumpJack Collection of Wineries has partnered with the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation to raise money and awareness the organization. On October 3rd, they are hosting a panel discussion with Oscar Renteria, Founder/CEO of Renteria Vineyard Management. From now through to October 15, a portion of the proceeds from every bottle of Adaptation and CADE Estate Howell Mountain wine purchased will be donated to the Farmworker Foundation. For more information or to make a donation, please visit: PlumpJack x Hispanic Heritage Month.

Finally, The PlumpJack Collection of Wineries recently announced the acquisition of Oso Vineyard, a sprawling, high elevation site in northeastern Napa Valley. With this investment, The PlumpJack Collection is now one of the largest estate wineries in Napa Valley. The purchase will help provide The PlumpJack Collection with access to high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon as well as Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot for years to come, ensuring its ongoing Estate channels of vertical integration.

For more information on The PlumpJack Collection of Wineries please visit, www.plumpjackcollection.com/ or follow on Instagram or Facebook.

About PlumpJack Estate Winery

Owned by partners Gavin Newsom, Gordon Getty and John Conover, and operated by PlumpJack Management Group, PlumpJack Winery is located in Napa Valley’s famed Oakville AVA. In its relatively short history, PlumpJack Winery has had a significant impact on the wine industry.  Its first release, the 1995 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, created a stir when Robert Parker, Jr. assigned it a rating of 95+, an extraordinary achievement for an inaugural release. The winery made international headlines in 2000 when it became the first producer to release a luxury wine, its 1997 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, with a screw cap closure. Since joining PlumpJack Winery in 2012, Winemaker Aaron Miller has shown true dedication to crafting Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon in the PlumpJack style, showcasing the unique soils, terrain, and microclimates of the estate’s 42 acres. Under Miller, PlumpJack has been honored with several accolades over the last ten years, including three 100-point Cabernet Sauvignons and two Syrahs in the Top 100 Wines of the World.

PlumpJack Winery (www.plumpjackwinery.com) is located at 620 Oakville Cross Road, Oakville, CA 94562.  PlumpJack Winery is open for tastings seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached by calling (707) 945-1220.

About Odette Estate Winery

Odette Estate is located in Napa Valley’s famed Stag’s Leap District.  The distinctive soils here are renowned for imparting extraordinary power, balanced by delicately articulated structure, varietal aromas and flavors to the wines.  Odette’s winemaker is Jeff Owens, who was assistant winemaker at both PlumpJack and CADE.  The name Odette was chosen for its representation of femininity, strength and power, all of which characterize the wines of Stag’s Leap District.  Odette Estate includes a historic 36-acre vineyard and a 5,000-square-foot winery with 18,000 square feet of caves. In 2021, Owens launched Adaptation, a new wine label under Odette Estate, which was designed to represent the perfect entry-point to Odette and the PlumpJack Collection of Wines at its comparatively accessible $78 price. 

Odette Estate Winery (www.odetteestate.com) is located at 5998 Silverado Trail, California 94558 and is open for tastings Mon-Sun from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached by calling (707) 224-7533.

About CADE Estate Winery

Perched high upon Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain among a dramatic hillside of Manzanita trees, CADE Winery is a unique, state-of-the-art facility producing an exquisite Estate Cabernet as well as an enticing Sauvignon Blanc and a rich Cabernet Sauvignon from local artisanal grapes.  Having received its Gold LEED certification in 2009, CADE is the greenest winery estate in California.  The name CADE derives from a Shakespearean term used for an oak cask or barrel.  The estate comprises more than 54 acres, 21 of which were planted as vineyards in 2003. CADE is dedicated to the production of world-class wines through environmentally conscious innovation and is one of the architectural showplaces of Northern California’s wine country. Danielle Cyrot has headed up winemaking at CADE since 2012. In 2016, Cyrot opened 13th Vineyard by CADE, restoring a historic property that dates to 1886 (and was the 13th bonded winery in California). She also helped commission a UC Davis study that proved how screw cap closures are a viable and eco-friendly alternative to cork. Her work has helped define the next generation of luxury wine packaging, dismantling the status quo and reframing screw caps as not only an acceptable closure for high end wine – but one that collectors should actively seek out.

CADE Estate Winery (www.cadewinery.com) is located at 360 Howell Mountain Road, Angwin, California 94508.  CADE is open for tastings by appointment only seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached by calling (707) 965-2746.

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