Daphne Araujo delivering grapes to the Araujo Estate winery (1995)
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Driven by Passion, Fueled by Experience
Inspired by the land, its history and its growers, the Araujo family produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc wines in the Napa Valley as Accendo Cellars. Previously, Bart and Daphne Araujo, as proprietors of Araujo Estate Wines and the Eisele Vineyard, worked with an outstanding viticultural and winemaking team. Since founding Accendo Cellars in 2013 with their children, Jaime and Greg, two generations of the family continue to now work with the same winemaking and viticulture teams today.
The wines of Accendo Cellars are inspired by Napa Valley’s early modern era—the 1950s, 60s and 70s—derived from grapevines rooted in some of the finest vineyard sites and nurtured by growers devoted to the land. The Accendo wines express the nobility and purity of the terroir the Araujos have long admired about this region.
The collective knowledge and experience of their esteemed team—winemakers Nigel Kinsman and Françoise Peschon, consulting oenologist Michel Rolland, viticulturist Steve Matthiasson, and Biodynamic consultant Jeff Dawson—ensure an uncompromising and meticulous approach to winemaking in both the vineyard and the cellar.
The portfolio includes Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, and soon a new Bordeaux-style blend called “Laurea” to be released in spring 2021. Made at Wheeler Farms’ state-of-the-art winemaking facility in Saint Helena, each wine is a carefully curated blend of grapes selected predominantly from vineyards in Oakville and Yountville.
Accendo Cellars launched in 2013, and from the first vintage, the wines have exhibited a passion reflecting the same level of excellence and attention to detail as previous Araujo projects.
“For years Napa Valley has nurtured and humbled us in ways we could never have imagined. It is our hope that Accendo will shine a new light on this magical place we call home.”
Daphne and Bart Araujo standing in front of the 1991 vintage in barrel inside the newly completed Araujo Estate Winery at Eisele Vineyard. (1992)
Daphne and Bart Araujo with Barbara and Milt Eisele after arriving permanently in Napa Valley. (1992)
Daphne and Bart Araujo at Eisele Vineyard in front of the Araujo Estate Winery. (1996)
First crush at the new Araujo Estate winery in 1992 with Bart, Daphne, Aruro Llamas (cellar master, Mia Klein and Tony Soter (consulting winemakers) and David Abreu (vineyard manager)
Françoise Peschon working in the Araujo Estate cellar at Eisele Vineyard. (1994)
Daphne and Bart Araujo with Caleb Mosely and the Araujo Estate Wines viticulture team during harvest at Eisele Vineyard. (2012)
Bart and Greg Araujo with Françoise Peschon and the Araujo Estate winemaking team in the cellar during harvest at Eisele Vineyard. (1993)
A Champagne toast to Araujo Estate Wines’ third Cabernet harvest with the team. (1993)
Jaime checking in guests at the groundbreaking: Bill Dyer (in background), Helen Turley, and Robin and Craig Williams of Joseph Phelps Winery