An Update on Vintage 2024 from Thomas Rivers Brown

As we reflect on the 2024 growing season, I am pleased to share what I believe will be another exceptional chapter for Schrader. As vintage 2024 makes its way to bottle, it is shaping up to be what many in Napa Valley are calling a classic—depth of flavor, beautifully structured, and evocative of the terroir we cherish. Generous winter rains laid the groundwork for the season, easing the impact of summer heat, while warm days and cool nights culminated in a confident, well-timed harvest that allowed each site to express its fullest potential.

As winemakers, we rarely get vintages that feel close to perfection, but 2024 was one of those years where color, depth, and vibrancy came together with remarkable balance—yielding fruit that promises compelling wines with both immediate presence and long-term cellar potential. This year’s offer embodies a blend of tradition and evolution. In addition to our Cabernet Sauvignon from the To Kalon Vineyard, I am thrilled to introduce two new single-vineyard bottlings crafted with the same dedication and rigor that define Schrader.
 
The Garra Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from an intimate, four-acre parcel set beside the site for our LPV bottlings, in what is widely regarded as one of Napa Valley’s finest neighborhoods for Cabernet Sauvignon. Heritage oak trees stand at the vineyard’s center, and the vines—balanced and thriving—produce fruit of exceptional clarity and intensity. 

The Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is equally compelling. Morisoli is one of Napa’s most storied family vineyards—spanning generations of Rutherford farming and yielding fruit with classic Rutherford dust spice, layered complexity, and supple tannin structure. Historically, Morisoli fruit has been prized by many of Napa’s respected wineries for its quality, and we are honored to interpret it through a Schrader lens. 
 
These new expressions are not departures from our philosophy; rather, they underscore a commitment to showcasing the depth and variety of Napa Valley’s finest sites. Our goal remains unchanged: to craft wines that embody power, precision, and provenance in our pursuit of perfection.

I am genuinely excited for you to experience what this vintage and these vineyards have to offer. We look forward to sharing these remarkable 2024 wines with you.

Cheers,

Thomas Rivers Brown
Winemaker, Schrader Cellars