An Update on Vintage 2023 from Jason Smith, MS
As we prepare to unveil our forthcoming offer for the 2023 vintage, we are excited to share a few updates and additions to this year’s release. This vintage not only represents the culmination of a remarkable growing season but also marks a momentous milestone: the 25th Anniversary of Schrader Cellars.
This incredible journey began in 1998, but the path to this moment was set in 2000 when Fred Schrader experienced his first transformative taste of a barrel sample from the then little-known To Kalon Vineyard. That same year, Fred took a chance on a young winemaker from Sumter, South Carolina, inviting him to craft the first vintage of Schrader Cellars sourced from To Kalon. Fred’s foresight in recognizing Thomas Rivers Brown’s talent and To Kalon’s potential established a winery that became a cornerstone of Napa Valley. Your steadfast support has made this journey possible, and we are deeply grateful to share this milestone with you.
The timing of this anniversary couldn't be more fitting, as 2023 blessed us with what will surely become one of Schrader's most celebrated vintages. Napa Valley experienced its longest growing season in over a decade, with mild, consistent temperatures that allowed for extended hang time and generous yields. These ideal conditions fostered exceptional fruit development, producing wines of unprecedented depth, harmony, and structure. As winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown notes, "It should end up being one of the best vintages of Schrader we've ever bottled."
Particularly meaningful in this anniversary vintage is the return of Old Sparky. Blended from only the finest barrels of the vintage, this legendary wine stands alongside the rest of our portfolio as a testament to our 25 years of dedication to uncompromising craftsmanship and excellence. To commemorate the occasion of our 25th year, we are also releasing a stunning limited-edition etched Old Sparky, even rarer than our typical release, to honor this moment and celebrate our future.
We are also proud to introduce an entirely new wine, our “TKS." This wine reflects Thomas’s ongoing exploration of Cabernet Sauvignon, producing wines that reveal its many facets when isolated to a single block or clone. Sourced 100% from To Kalon Vineyard, it features rich dark fruit, bright floral and spice notes, signature freshness, and ripe tannins. TKS is poised to become one of the most coveted wines in the Schrader portfolio.
Here’s to the next quarter-century of Schrader Cellars—to exceptional wines, unforgettable moments, and our relentless pursuit of perfection.