Ackerman Family Vineyards Napa

Napa Valley Wineries

The Ackerman’s have learned a lot about grape growing since they bought the property in 1994. The first few years were spent just getting to know the vineyard and its various nuances. Over time, they began to fine-tune the vines through new trellising, pruning, installing irrigation and replanting. In 1998, they replanted all 11 acres to Cabernet Sauvignon on drought-resistant rootstock and changed the trellis system to expose the fruit in order to take better advantage of the long, warm days and cool nights on their hillside vineyard. They farm organically, using cover crops and composting. They also use hawk boxes to keep rodents out of the vineyards (as well as a couple of good vineyard dogs to patrol the fences!). They initially sold most of their grapes to local wineries and kept enough to make a couple barrels of wine for themselves, family, friends and a few favorite restaurants. Finally in 2003, the Ackerman's produced their first commercial vintage after everyone who already came to love their wine told them it was time to start making more and selling it. This first release of Ackerman Family Vineyards 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon is designed to be a balanced, smooth wine that blends well with food -- not competing with it. It is created in the style of good French Bordeaux – complex yet subtle. It is a definite labor of love -- 12 years in the making!

Our weather has been a somewhat typical spring in the Napa Valley with rainy days interspersed with gorgeous sunny days and mild temperatures. This mixed weather has our green rolling hills looking lush while the wisteria, lilac, and jasmine are blooming sweetly. In the vineyards, the mustard seed peppers a beautiful yellow between the rows of vines which are beginning to have a lot of green leaves since bud break earlier in March. It looks promising for a great growing season!

We’ve been off to a busy start this year. We’ve attended a number of wine-tasting events in California. In February, we attended the Grand Tasting at the Bayleaf Restaurant in Napa - for the first time in history, Napa Valley Cabernets were judged and ranked as the "Best of the Best" and categorized into the Top 100 Cabs of the Napa Valley. Our 2006 Ackerman Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley was recognized as one of the Best of the Best – this vintage will be released this October, so watch for it!

In March, we participated in the “Taste of Napa Valley” in the Los Angeles area. It was a whirlwind with six wine-tasting events in five days. The events took place at Los Angeles’ Napa Valley Grille, Wally’s Wine & Spirits, the Fairmont Hotel in Long Beach as well as at other locations. We were able to talk with many of our fans as well as make new ones! We were also honored to pour at the Computer History Museum in March where we were the only Cabernet Sauvignon at the event. Silicon Valley wine enthusiasts love our cab, too!

April brought with it the San Francisco Vintners’ Market at Fort Mason. This event hosted approximately 150 wine brands where the public was welcome to come and taste wines and also buy them. This two-day event was the first one in which people could actually purchase wine at a wine-tasting event – over 2,000 people attended! Our cabs were a big hit with this crowd and we made several new friends for Ackerman Family Vineyards!

It’s been a busy start to the year with more to come including the Jackson Hole Wine Auction as well as the Napa Valley Wine Auction, both taking place in June. We hope to see you there!

In the meantime, we hope you’ve had a good start to the year as well. We would be honored if you celebrated your next occasion with family or friends and enjoyed with our wine. Thank you to everyone for being great supporters of Ackerman Family Vineyards – it is a true enjoyment to be shared! We know we certainly love making it.

All the best,

Bob & Lauren Ackerman

Ackerman Family Vineyards

Ackerman Family Vineyards Napa

Napa Valley Wineries

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