History of Shafer
The story of Shafer Vineyards began in 1973, when John Shafer, then a corporate publishing executive from Chicago, made a bold career shift by purchasing a neglected vineyard in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District. The land had been planted with grapes since the 1920s but had fallen into disuse. With no farming background, Shafer taught himself viticulture—famously learning to operate a TD-9 bulldozer, which would later give its name to one of the estate's wines. His determination and vision laid the groundwork for the estate’s future success.
In 1983, the winery released its first vintage of Hillside Select, made entirely from estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine soon gained cult status and critical acclaim, becoming one of Napa Valley’s most iconic labels. That same year, John’s son, Doug Shafer, joined the estate, bringing with him formal training in enology and viticulture. In 1984, Doug hired Elias Fernandez as assistant winemaker, and by 1994, Fernandez became head winemaker. The Shafer-Fernandez partnership is now one of the longest-standing winemaking collaborations in Napa Valley. Over the decades, Shafer built a reputation not only for wine quality but also for its early commitment to sustainability, solar power, and long-term stewardship of the land.
In 2022, after nearly 50 years of family ownership, Shafer Vineyards was acquired by the Kirin-owned Luxus Holdings, marking the next chapter in its storied evolution while maintaining continuity in viticulture and winemaking.
Region and Vineyards
Shafer’s heart lies in the Stags Leap District AVA, a sub-appellation of Napa Valley designated in 1989. Located just east of the Napa River, the district is flanked by the Vaca Mountains and is renowned for producing Cabernet Sauvignon with remarkable balance, elegance, and longevity. The terroir is defined by well-drained volcanic soils, including tufa and loam, and the region benefits from warm days and cool nights due to marine breezes from the San Pablo Bay. These conditions allow grapes to ripen fully while retaining acidity—crucial for freshness and aging potential.
Shafer farms approximately 200 acres of estate vineyards, including hillside and foothill parcels that bring both power and finesse to their wines. The Hillside Estate includes iconic blocks like Sunspot, Venado IlégaI, and Firebreak, which form the exclusive source for Hillside Select. The Red Shoulder Ranch vineyard, located in Carneros, supplies Chardonnay grapes and is named for the red-shouldered hawks that patrol the vineyard naturally managing pests. Every vineyard is managed under sustainable and solar-powered practices, with no herbicides used and cover crops employed to enhance soil health and biodiversity.
Wine Range of Shafer
Shafer's portfolio is compact but impactful, emphasizing estate-grown, terroir-expressive wines:
- Hillside Select: The estate’s flagship wine. A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from select hillside blocks, aged 32 months in new French oak. Known for its deep concentration, complexity, and capacity for 20+ years of aging. Released in limited quantities and highly allocated.
- One Point Five: Named to reflect the close working relationship between John and Doug Shafer—“a generation and a half.” It is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend (often with small additions of Petit Verdot or Malbec) from both hillside and valley-floor sites. More accessible in youth than Hillside Select but retains serious structure and depth.
- Relentless: A powerful and expressive blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah, named in honor of winemaker Elias Fernandez’s relentless dedication. Aged for 30 months in new oak, it’s known for richness, dark fruit, meaty undertones, and ageability.
- TD-9: A bold yet approachable red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, named after the bulldozer John Shafer drove in his early vineyard days. Offers plush fruit, energy, and early-drinking charm with serious depth.
- Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay: A single-vineyard Chardonnay from Carneros, fermented with native yeasts and aged without malolactic fermentation to retain natural acidity and vibrant fruit character. Aged in a mix of French oak and stainless steel, it’s a textured yet fresh white.
Did you know?
Shafer was one of the first Napa estates to convert to 100% solar power and eliminate herbicide use. The long-term collaboration between Doug Shafer and Elias Fernandez, now spanning more than three decades, is one of the most enduring and successful partnerships in modern California winemaking.
