Voces Cellars is owned and operated by Fernando Candelario. We met up with him at Regusci Winery. His parents immigrated from Michoacán Mexico in 1979, a region of the country that a number of Mexican-American vintners in the Napa Valley are originally from. Sometimes you don’t know what path life will lead you on – Fernando certainly was not on a career path to become a winemaker. He came to the valley in 1984 and soon after arriving started school. After a few years he took a job at Robert Mondavi Winery in the cellar where for the next seven years he gained invaluable wine making experience.

His next job took him to Calistoga where he worked for Greg Brown who he refers to as the “maestro”. At that time Greg was the owner of T-Vine Cellars. This is where Fernando learned much of what he applies today in the cellar (boutique winemaking) – working closely with Greg and making wine with a number of varietals. He also started making Voces here with his first commercial vintage released in 2002. Fernando was also the primary winemaker for T-Vine Cellars for many years.

Fernando and Voces Wine are one of a select group of charter members for the Napa Valley Mexican-American Vintners Association (NVMAVA). In early 2010, a number of Mexican-Napa vintners were invited down to Morelia Mexico for a wine tasting and the absence of a Mexican-American Vintner association was discussed. Upon returning stateside a number of mostly Napa owned vintners formed this association. Their goals are to promote their own wines, support Mexican Americans in the wine industry and provide a forum for wine education.

The Voces Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby in color with riper, friendly aromatics showing including blackberry, black licorice and dark cherry with notes of mocha and white pepper. A little meaty, a little savory. Juicy with flavors of cherry. Very fine grained tannins linger softly on the supple finish with an equally gentle touch of oak influence (notes of cedar) and expresso. Aged for four years in 60% new French oak barrels. An extremely good buy.

14.5% ABV