Shafer Vineyards
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
"John's Upper 7"
Stags Leap District AVA
Auction 24 | Lot No. 78
Vintage: 2018
Shafer Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Stags Leap District
5 cases produced
Highlights
- John’s Upper 7 was the first hillside vineyard block planted by John Shafer in the mid-1970s
- This 2018 John’s Upper 7 Cabernet Sauvignon is the 40th vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon from the hillsides he planted
- This one-time bottling for Premiere Napa Valley is a tribute to John Shafer’s legacy
- It is 100% Cabernet from an historic Stags Leap District vineyard block beloved by the Shafer family
Description
John's Upper 7 was the first hillside vineyard block planted by John Shafer in the mid-1970s to Cabernet Sauvignon. Back then this was a risk. Conventional wisdom at the time said that Stags Leap District was too cold to produce quality Cabernet Sauvignon, but John had tasted the homemade 1968 Cabernet made by his neighbor, Nathan Fay. John sensed that this shoulder on his hillside property was meant for Cabernet. And he was right. This one-time bottling of 2018 John's Upper 7 Cabernet Sauvignon is the 40th vintage from the hillsides John Shafer planted and is a tribute to his legacy.
Wine Facts
- Single vineyard wine
- Sustainably produced
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Elias Fernandez
Winemaker, Shafer Vineyards
Elias Fernandez has been making wine at Shafer Vineyards for 40 years, forging a style of boldness, elegance, and balance that has been embraced by wine lovers throughout the world. Elias earned his success in part because he knows Napa Valley vineyards from the roots up. He knows first-hand what it’s like to work in 100-degree heat among dusty vine rows as well as the difficulties of pruning vines in the freezing winter pre-dawn light.
Elias’ father came to the U.S. from Michoacan, Mexico and worked in the San Joaquin Valley as a farm laborer. His mother was born in Napa Valley where her father was a laborer who helped build the rail line that runs through Yountville. Both parents picked prunes and walnuts in the days before wine grapes became the predominant crop in the Valley. Some of Elias’ earliest memories are in these orchards.
In junior high, Elias started working in vineyards with his father where he learned to drive tractors, train and prune grapevines and from both parents he learned the value of hard work and self reliance. "When I graduated from UC Davis, I knew I wanted to work for a smaller winery that would give me the chance to be a "hands-on" winemaker, getting involved in all aspects of running a cellar. I had a lot of excitement getting into this career and that excitement has stayed with me."
Country born: United States
Education: B.S. in Fermentation Science from U.C. Davis
Years in the wine industry: 30+ years
Honors / Awards:
"Winemaker of the Year" - Food & Wine magazine and Wine & Spirits magazine; inducted into the Hispanic Scholarship Fund's Hispanic Hall of Fame at The White House
Winemaking Philosophy:
Coming into this 40 years ago, I thought that winemaking happened underneath the roof of the cellar. Today who I am as a winemaker has umbrellaed in a big way. Winemaking starts in January with pruning and continues throughout the year. I'm not just selecting the best fruit, I'm selecting the best corks, the right barrel staves, ensuring that the bottling line is working at top efficiency. What I've also learned is to let the land dictate the best grape variety and the style of the wine that ends up in the bottle.
Jacob Liquor Exchange
3049 North Rock Road
Wichita KS 67226
316-636-4566
Other Premiere Napa Valley Wines available from Jacob Liquor Exchange:
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crosby Roamann | 2022 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Estate Bottled | 28 (2024) |
| Shafer Vineyards | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | One Point Five | 26 (2022) |
| Foley Johnson | 2019 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Peral Estate Vineyard | 25 (2021) |
| Hestan Vineyards | 2019 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Estate Selection | 25 (2021) |
| Quixote Winery | 2019 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | 25 (2021) | |
| Saintsbury | 2019 | Chardonnay | Los Carneros | Toyon Farm | 25 (2021) |
| To Kalon Vineyard Company | 2019 | Red Wine | Oakville | A Unique Offering | 25 (2021) |
| Shafer Vineyards | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | John's Upper 7 | 24 (2020) |
| Artesa Vineyards & Winery | 2017 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon | 23 (2019) |
| Faustini Wines | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Ava | 23 (2019) |
| Jamieson Ranch Vineyards | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Falabella | 23 (2019) |
| Rocca Family Vineyards | 2017 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | Collinetta Vineyard Winemaker's Barrel | 23 (2019) |
| Bell Wine Cellars, Hoopes Vineyard, Mira Winery | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | 22 (2018) | |
| Freedom Estate | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 22 (2018) | |
| Rutherford Hill Winery | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Rutherford Dust | 22 (2018) |
| Vine Cliff Winery | 2016 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Memories | 22 (2018) |
| Pillar Rock Vineyard | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | 14 (2010) | |
| Porter Family Vineyards | 2007 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Duet | 14 (2010) |
| Signorello Estate | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Big Rock Cuvee | 14 (2010) |
| Venge Vineyards | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Family Reserve, Oakville | 14 (2010) |
| Work Vineyard | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Napa Valley Reserve | 14 (2010) |
| Lail Vineyards | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Heimark Vineyard/ Mole Hill blend | 13 (2009) |
| Schrader Cellars, LLC | 2007 | Zinfandel | Napa Valley | Vieux Os "Wicked Stump" | 13 (2009) |
| Signorello Estate | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Big Rock Cuvee | 13 (2009) |
| Spelletich Cellars | 2008 | Pinot Noir | Napa Valley | 13 (2009) | |
| V Madrone Cellars | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Transition | 13 (2009) |
| Baldacci Family Vineyards | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | First Born | 12 (2008) |
| Dominari | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Promiscuus | 12 (2008) |
| Mi Sueño Winery | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Selección Herrera | 12 (2008) |
| Palmaz Vineyards | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Best of 40 Barrels - Los Olivos | 12 (2008) |
| CONSTANT | 2006 | Cabernet Franc | Diamond Mountain District | 11 (2007) | |
| Sullivan Vineyards | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 11 (2007) | |
| Atlas Peak Vineyards | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 10 (2006) | |
| Robert Craig Winery | Non-vintage | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Affinity | 8 (2004) |
| Robert Mondavi Winery | 2002 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon | 8 (2004) |
| Robert Pecota Winery | 2002 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Wedding Oak Block, Kara's Vineyard | 8 (2004) |
| Fife Vineyards | 1999 | Syrah | Napa Valley | Max's | 5 (2001) |
| Trinchero Winery | 1999 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Lewelling Vineyard | 5 (2001) |
| Viader Vineyards and Winery | 2000 | Syrah | Napa Valley | 5 (2001) | |
| Villa Mt. Eden | 1999 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Stagecoach Vineyard | 5 (2001) |
Winery Distribution
Shafer Vineyards is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Domestic:
- Alabama (International Wines & Craft Beer)
- Alaska (Columbia/Young's Market)
- Arizona (Quail Distributing)
- Arkansas (Moon Distributors)
- California (Winebow - North/South)
- California (Winebow - North)
- California (Winebow - South)
- Colorado (Grand Vin)
- Connecticut (Worldwide Wines c/o Brescome Barton)
- Delaware (Vintage Import)
- Florida (BreakThru Beverage)
- Florida (Augustan Wine Imports)
- Georgia (Winebow)
- Hawaii (Chambers & Chambers)
- Idaho (Craig Stein Beverage - Sun Valley/East)
- Idaho (Idaho Wine Merchants - Western)
- Illinois (Maverick Wine Co)
- Indiana (Carroll Co)
- Iowa (Okoboji Wines)
- Kansas (LDF Sales and Dist. Inc.)
- Kentucky (Heidelberg Distributing)
- Louisiana (Wines Unlimited)
- Maine (South Portland Wine Company)
- Maryland (Bacchus Importers Ltd)
- Massachusetts (Carolina Wine Co/Martignetti)
- Michigan (Great Lakes Wine & Spirits)
- Minnesota (The Wine Company)
- Mississippi (International Wines, Inc.)
- Missouri (Glazer's Midwest-Kansas City)
- Montana (George's Distributing Wine)
- Nebraska (Quail Distributing)
- Nevada (Vin Sauvage, LLC)
- New Hampshire (Martignetti Companies of NH)
- New Jersey (Winebow Inc)
- New Mexico (Bacchus Wine Patrol / SWS NM)
- New York (Winebow Inc)
- North Carolina (RNDC Company, LLC )
- North Carolina (Advintage of NC)
- North Dakota (RNDC Company, LLC )
- Ohio (Wine Trends)
- Oklahoma (Thirst Wine Merchant)
- Oregon (Galaxy Wine Company)
- Pennsylvania (Vintage Imports)
- Rhode Island (Mancini Beverage / Rhode Island Distributing)
- South Carolina (Advintage Distributing)
- Tennessee (Best Brands Inc - NASHVILLE & CHATTANOGA)
- Tennessee (D & V Distributing - KNOXVILLE)
- Tennessee (Southern (Glazer's) - MEMPHIS)
- Texas (RNDC- Schertz)
- Texas (RNDC- Grand Prairie)
- Texas (RNDC- Houston)
- Utah (Utah Liquor Control)
- Virginia (Winebow)
- Virginia (Select Wines- North VA)
- Washington (Winebow)
- Wisconsin (Prestige Wines Wisconsin)
- Wisconsin (Prestige Wines Wisconsin-Oshkosh)
- Wisconsin (Prestige Wines Wisconsin- Madison)
- Wyoming (Wyoming Liquor Commission)
International:
- Austria (TransGourmet)
- Belgium (Vinesse)
- Bermuda (Barrows Lightbourn)
- Canada (Rogers/International)
- Caribbean (Webb Banks)
- China (ASC)
- Costa Rica (Vinum Aura)
- Denmark (Bergman Fine Wines)
- France (Valade et Transadine)
- Germany (Freund)
- Hong Kong (Ponti)
- Ireland (James Nicholson)
- Japan (Hottei)
- Liechtenstein (Ritter)
- Luxembourg (Vimowa)
- Mexico (Great Fine Wines)
- Netherlands (Bart)
- Philippines (Transcontinental)
- Singapore (Excaliber)
- South Korea (Nara)
- Spain (Vila Vinteca)
- Sweden (VinUnic)
- Switzerland (Martell)
- Taiwan (Atherton)
- Thailand (California Pacific Wines)
- United Kingdom (Thorman Hunt)