Caymus Vineyards

Founded in 1972 by Charlie Wagner, Caymus Vineyards has become one of Napa Valley's most recognised producers of Cabernet Sauvignon and a defining name in the modern American fine wine landscape. Based in Rutherford and now led by Charlie's son, Chuck Wagner, the family-owned estate has shaped the contemporary profile of Napa Valley Cabernet through five decades of meticulous vineyard sourcing and restrained winemaking. Its wines are distinguished by concentrated black fruit, polished texture and a capacity to age gracefully for decades.

Quick Facts

• Location: Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, United States
• Founded: 1972
• Founder: Charlie Wagner
• Ownership: Wagner family
• Leadership: Chuck Wagner, second generation
• Principal grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Appellation focus: Rutherford AVA, with additional fruit sourced across Napa Valley
• Estate philosophy: Meticulous vineyard sourcing, extended maceration, careful barrel selection
• Flagship wine: Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• Icon wine: Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon
• Style: Concentrated, structured Napa Valley Cabernet with richness and ageing potential
• Production approach: Hands-on family stewardship and traditional cellar practices

A Family Vision Rooted in Rutherford

Charlie Wagner established Caymus Vineyards in 1972 with a clear ambition: to craft Cabernet Sauvignon that expressed the depth and intensity of Napa Valley fruit while retaining balance and structure. Rutherford, with its warm climate and well-drained alluvial soils, provided the foundation for this vision.

The estate quickly gained recognition for its bold, fruit-driven wines that departed from lighter, more restrained styles then common in California. By the late 1970s, Caymus had begun to establish itself as a benchmark producer, defining a richer, more expressive Napa Valley profile that resonated with collectors and critics alike.

The Rutherford Foundation

Caymus draws much of its identity from Rutherford, an appellation known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon with what many describe as Rutherford dust—a distinctive earthy, dusty quality that complements ripe fruit and structured tannins. The estate sources fruit from carefully selected vineyard sites across the appellation, where deep gravelly loam soils, warm days and cool evenings produce grapes of exceptional concentration and physiological ripeness.

Additional vineyard sources across Napa Valley allow Caymus to achieve consistency year after year, blending sites that complement one another and contribute layered complexity to the finished wines. This multi-site approach, guided by decades of experience, enables the estate to navigate vintage variation while maintaining its signature style.

Two Expressions of Napa Cabernet

Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon represents the estate's core expression, produced annually and recognised as one of the most widely distributed fine Cabernet Sauvignons in the United States. Extended maceration and judicious barrel ageing in American oak contribute to the wine's generous texture, dark fruit character and polished tannin structure.

At the summit of the range stands Caymus Special Selection, a limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon made only in outstanding vintages. First released in 1975, Special Selection is sourced from the estate's finest parcels and receives extended barrel maturation. The wine has garnered critical acclaim over decades and is built for long-term cellaring, developing greater aromatic complexity and textural refinement with age.

Consistency Across Generations

Chuck Wagner's leadership has maintained the estate's commitment to hands-on winemaking and vineyard attention to detail. Traditional techniques—including careful fruit selection, gentle handling and extended time on skins—allow Caymus to produce wines that balance power with elegance and immediate appeal with ageing potential.

Across more than fifty vintages, Caymus has remained focused on a singular goal: crafting Cabernet Sauvignon that honours Napa Valley's terroir and the Wagner family's enduring vision. The result is a portfolio defined by richness, consistency and a style that continues to shape the identity of American Cabernet.