History
As the crow flies, about a half mile over the mountain from CADE Estate lies the seldom-told story of an extraordinary winery, CADE 13th. Our estate dates back to 1877 when two Frenchmen, Jean Adolph Brun and Jean V. Chaix, planted the first vineyards on Howell Mountain, defying the norm of cultivating on the Napa Valley floor, and established California's thirteenth licensed winery, naming it Nouveau Medoc Vineyard. In 1886, the duo built a three-story gravity-fed winery made of stone. Their pioneering efforts quickly paid off, earning a bronze medal at the 1889 Paris World Competition. Despite facing significant challenges, including Phylloxera, Prohibition, and periods of neglect, the estate's resilience shone through. In 1980, Francis and Francoise DeWavrin, former owners of the renowned Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion in Bordeaux, revitalized the vineyard, renaming it Chateau Woltner and producing their first vintage in 1985. In 2000, Pat and Anne Stotesbery of Ladera Vineyards undertook significant renovations, replanting with red Bordeaux grape varieties. The PlumpJack Group acquired the property in 2016, renaming it CADE 13th to honor its historical significance. Today, CADE Estate Winemaker Danielle Cyrot is at the helm of CADE 13th, producing award-winning wines that celebrate our storied past.
The Connection
We felt a special kinship to the estate and its founders, who were innovators and trailblazers during a time that celebrated old traditions. We, too, value innovation and respect what came before and want to ensure it remains long after we are gone. Acquiring this property allowed us to rediscover the past and grow into the future, evolving the production of our estate-driven wines, many of which we now make in this historic stone winery.
Danielle Cyrot
Danielle Cyrot grew up in Orange County California to a French father and Irish Mother. Her childhood was spent summering in France where she was exposed to the winemaking history of her family from a young age. Her great-grandfather was the last in a long line of ancestors who owned the Cyrot vineyard in Burgundy’s prestigious Côte de Beaune.
With no plans to carry on her family’s legacy in winemaking, Danielle enrolled at the University of California, Davis. That quickly changed when she took an introductory winemaking class and realized she had found her calling. At UC Davis, Danielle worked harvests at both Schramsberg and Artesa in the Napa Valley, where she learned the trade from the soil up. After completing her studies, earning a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Enology, Danielle worked abroad at wineries in Alsace, France and South Australia.
After honing her skills overseas, Danielle came back to the Napa Valley and took a job as an enologist at Stags’ Leap Winery. Danielle’s talents were quickly recognized as she was promoted to assistant winemaker under her mentor Robert Brittan. During her six-year tenure at Stags’ Leap Winery, Danielle learned to trust her palate and create world-class wines that merited her next promotion as winemaker at St. Clement. Danielle spent seven years creating elegant, structured and significant wines that expressed her personality and what she likes in a glass of wine.
Danielle lives in Napa with her college sweetheart and son Blake. Danielle joined CADE Estate Winery in August of 2012, focusing on crafting wines from her two favorite varietals, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. CADE Estate Winery produces two Sauvignon Blanc offerings (Napa Valley and Oakville Estate) as well as three Cabernet Sauvignon offerings (Napa Valley, Estate Howell Mountain, and Reserve Howell Mountain).
Tyler Martin
Tyler Martin, Associate Winemaker for CADE Estate and 13th Vineayrd, joined the CADE Estate cellar team in August 2013. After working diligently and honing his skill set, showing great passion and detail to his craft, he was promoted to Enologist in August 2015 and promoted to Assistant Winemaker in August 2017. A 2012 graduate of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Tyler had no intention of becoming a winemaker. Entering his freshman year, Tyler was studying Agricultural Business. Although he found his business classes useful, he felt his studies were not providing a creative outlet or fulfilling his passion for science. While looking into other majors, Tyler found the rapidly growing Wine and Viticulture Program.
Growing up in the Moraga, CA, he has always been in close proximity to the wine country. Spending time tasting and collecting wine with his father, he continued to nurture his interest and knowledge of wine. Tyler’s first experience in winemaking came during his internship at Edna Valley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo. As a member of the 2010 Harvest team, Tyler was exposed to all facets of cellar work. The long hours, the constant pump overs, and the sweet buzz of the crush line. He was hooked.
After graduating, Tyler spent the next year traveling the world gaining experience in both the northern and southern hemispheres. As a harvest intern at Vineyard 29 in St. Helena, he got his first experience with the super-premium winemaking of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Furthering his winemaking education, he moved to Australia in February 2013 to experience two sparkling wine harvests: the first at Taltarni Vineyards in Victoria and second at Clover Hill Wines in Tasmania. Through all these experiences, Tyler practiced many different winemaking styles and ideologies, which have all influenced him to become the winemaker he is today.
Since joining the production team at CADE, he has had the opportunity to create elegant, handcrafted premium wines, work with a dedicated team and further expand his winemaking expertise under the talented winemaking practices that Danielle has established.
