Over the course of more than two decades, Schrader Cellars has burnished a reputation for excellence by imposing the highest standards of winemaking and sourcing in pursuit of producing Cabernet Sauvignon that captures the essence of the best vineyards in Napa Valley.  Schrader Cellars was founded in 1998 by Fred Schrader, who set out to craft Cabernet Sauvignon with a single-minded focus on quality and provenance. Thomas Rivers Brown joined Schrader Cellars as winemaker in 2000.

Today, Schrader Cellars has achieved thirty-nine perfect 100 point scores from top wine reviewers – more than any other winery in the Napa Valley.

In 1988, Fred Schrader was a thriving dealer in the world of art and antiques when his good friend and Christie's auctioneer, Brian Cole, invited him to the Napa Valley Wine Auction. A lover of wine and adventure, Fred happily accepted the invitation and soon found himself enjoying delicious wines while spending time with some of the valley’s most notable founders.

Fred tasted a barrel sample of Cabernet in 2000 that changed the course of his life. On a quest to produce wine with similar depth and uniqueness, he discovered the source of the extraordinary grapes to be the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. Fred knew he had found the source for great Cabernet, and he set out to secure grapes from this remarkable estate.

This quest led Fred directly to the office of legendary grape grower W. Andrew Beckstoffer. The partnership began with a small, but stunning selection of vine rows in the historic Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard. As the years clipped by, we expanded our reach in the vineyard, and today the finest blocks are dedicated to growing Schrader Cabernet.

Fred approached Thomas Rivers Brown about joining his new Cabernet project. Thomas had just moved to the valley and showed a great passion for winemaking. The biggest challenge — he had never made a bottle of Cabernet, only Zinfandel. Where others may have been daunted, Fred saw this as an opportunity.

Fred and Thomas worked on the style of wine Fred hoped to achieve — big, fruit-forward, and abundant with exceptional purity as well as enduring structure. They both consider the 2001 vintage to be the first sign of the great things to come. The rest, as they say, is history.