Cakebread ‘Dancing Bear Ranch’ (2021)

Dancing Bear Ranch is located high on the slopes of Howell Mountain in northern Napa Valley, where vines struggle in rocky, shallow soils. Elevations range from 1450’ to over 1600’ above sea level, and offer a near 360 degree exposure, for great diversity in growing conditions. This isolated vineyard is home to turkeys, mountain lions, bobcats and of course, bear. To keep bears away from merlot grapes (their favorite) Dennis Cakebread once hooked up a motion detector to a boom box. It didn’t work, but the resulting videos of the bears in action inspired the name of the property and its signature wine. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc all thrive here.