Cabernet Sauvignon

Food pairings: A cowboy-cut grilled rib eye with pepper sauce, lamb chops with balsamic reduction, or a charcuterie platter with smoked duck breast, dry-cured sausage, figs and pecans.

Winemaking: The fruit is picked only when ripeness, judged by sugar levels and by the vines' physiological readiness, has reached an ideal point. In the cellar, lots are kept separate by vineyard and given extended maceration, then moved to small French oak barrels, about 70% new and 30% seasoned, for the secondary fermentation. The final blend is chosen after numerous blind tastings, for a classic yet complex, fruit-forward Napa Valley Cabernet.

Vineyards and terroir: The name Quilt refers to the Napa Valley's rolling patchwork of vineyards. Fruit is sourced from a patchwork of prime vineyards across the valley's districts, including Oakville, St. Helena, Atlas Peak, Coombsville, Calistoga and Howell Mountain, mostly from the valley floor with some higher-elevation fruit, each adding its own mark of climate, elevation and soil to the blend.

Family and history: Quilt was founded by Joe Wagner, a fifth-generation Napa Valley winemaker. At 19 he started working alongside his father at Caymus Vineyards, and in 2001 he created Belle Glos, focused on vineyard-designated Pinot Noir from California's best coastal regions. His love for the Napa Valley's blend of natural elements, history and spirit is the foundation of Quilt, whose wines can be tasted at the Quilt & Co. tasting room in downtown Napa.

In the pictures: Owner and winemaker Joe Wagner in the vineyard (courtesy of Quilt Wines); and the Quilt & Co. tasting room in Napa (courtesy of Quilt Wines).