The old Scottish saying, “what’s meant to happen will happen” rings very true at Cairdean Estate. When Stacia and Edwin Williams first moved to the Napa Valley and bought their first 50-acre parcel of land in St. Helena in 2010, they intended to plant vineyards, make a little of their own wine, and sell the rest of the grapes. Shortly after closing on the 50-acre parcel, they went into escrow on a seven-acre commercial parcel next door. Stacia and Edwin instantly recognized this amazing opportunity to create a true winery destination unlike any other in the Napa Valley, and bought the land.
In the four years that have followed, the Williams have been fast at work transforming the property into a world-class wine and food destination, featuring a state-of-the-art winery complete with wine caves, a bakery/deli, a 2015 Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand Award-winning gastropub, picnic grounds, and a mercantile shop.
When they started the winery, Stacia chose the name Cairdean (care-deen), which is a Scottish-Gaelic word for friends. Of Scottish descent, Stacia wanted to both honor her heritage and state the purpose of their family business: to make friends through wonderful wine and food. She had a decade’s worth of experience as a home winemaker and had valued the farm-to-table lifestyle her entire life. She received a degree in enology from California State University, Fresno. When she began crafting wines for the Cairdean Estate label, she wanted to make wines that she wanted to drink.
“Stacia puts her own spin on the wines, which are always high quality,” Edwin says. In addition to Cairdean Estate, the couple has purchased two more estate vineyards: the 10-acre Acquaintance Vineyard in Napa’s Coombsville AVA and the 28-acre Confidant Vineyard in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. Stacia listens to the fruit and only uses the practices she needs to craft her delicious, food-friendly portfolio of wines.
Cairdean Estate is a place where guests can stop by whenever they like. Butterscots Bakery, Deli, and Culinary Market opens at seven o’clock each morning. It’s a bright and friendly place to drop in for an espresso and breakfast baked goodie, and return for a fresh salad, soup, or sandwich made with house-made bread at lunch. Guests are invited to taste a flight of wines, enjoy lunch on the patio, and then return in the evening for a very special dinner. The Farmer & The Fox Restaurant has been a Napa Valley favorite since the day it opened. It offers a modern take on the traditional British gastropub with a beautiful décor highlighted with lush leather booths and a central communal table. Here, old and new friends gaze at the inspired menu and marvel over its culinary creativity. Dishes like smoked duck wings, game pie, whiskey-cured salmon, lamb tartare, and griddled sourdough crumpet—plus popovers baked on the half-hour—win rave reviews and many repeat visits. The Farmer & The Fox received a 2015 Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand Award, which honors outstanding restaurants serving two courses and a glass of wine for under 40 dollars.
Beyond spending time in the bakery/deli, tasting bar, and restaurant, guests also love to see what’s new at Redolent Mercantile, the estate’s intriguing shop features a stylishly curated collection of Scottish items from cashmere throws to artisanal Scotches. As the winery’s name implies, Cairdean Estate is a true Napa Valley destination—a unique spot to gather as friends to enjoy excellent wine, outstanding food, and wonderful times together.
T&T: Congratulations on the continued development of your beautiful destination winery! Can you tell us about your new winery building and the caves you’ve built?
EW: The winery has a green roof which not only helps the winery fit in with its natural surroundings but also acts as a great insulator which aids in energy efficiency. The caves are amazing, especially on a very warm day, and they maintain the proper temperature and humidity level for wines as we barrel-age them.
SW: We had our first harvest at our new winery in 2014 and it was incredible. We installed a leading-edge system that allows us to specifically control critical key elements, such as fermentation temperature, with an online software tool which allows us not only more control over our wines but also a level of freedom so that we can focus more time on other crucial elements to wine quality.
T&T: Butterscots Bakery, Deli, and Culinary Market and The Farmer & The Fox Restaurant have a loyal local following. Did you build it with locals or wine tourists in mind?
SW: We wanted to create a space where both locals and visitors alike would appreciate visiting and bring their friends back with them on their next visit. From the concept of the spaces and our offerings in each to the curated selections of fine art and retail items to the quality of the wine & food and to the level of service and hospitality, we are striving to bring each visitor into our village and provide them with the best experience possible.
T&T: And now you’ve opened Redolent Mercantile. What can we expect to find there?
EW: Redolent Mercantile is a curated creative shopping experience unlike any other in Napa Valley. Redolent offers a variety of luxury items specifically chosen for their artisan quality, unique design, and beauty, including home décor, jewelry, scarves, cashmere, books, leather goods, hand-blown glass, skincare and cosmetic items, luxury electronics, and even bicycles! And, nearly every item is exclusive to Napa Valley.
SW: Each item has been hand-selected and sourced directly from producers of fine goods from all over the world. A lot of thought has gone into the selection of products, and there will always be new, beautiful finds. Redolent will be a place for discovery.