In the hallowed landscape of Napa Valley, few names inspire as much reverence as Scarecrow Estate. More than just a winery, Scarecrow embodies a philosophy of heritage, rarity, and perfection that has elevated it to cult status among collectors and sommeliers worldwide. Rooted in one of Napa’s most historic vineyards, shaped by visionary people, and guided by a relentless commitment to excellence, Scarecrow is a story of past, present, and future told through Cabernet Sauvignon of extraordinary depth.
History of the Winery
The roots of Scarecrow stretch back to the early 1940s, when Hollywood producer Joseph Judson “J.J.” Cohn purchased a 180-acre property in Rutherford in 1943. At the time, Napa Valley was far from the international wine capital it would become, and the vineyards of Rutherford were still primarily quiet farmland. For Cohn, whose career had reached its zenith as production chief at MGM Studios, the purchase represented both an escape from Hollywood and an opportunity to put down roots in a quieter, more agrarian setting.
Cohn’s Hollywood credentials were formidable. He oversaw production on some of the greatest films of the Golden Age, including Ben Hur, Doctor Zhivago, Mutiny on the Bounty, and most famously, The Wizard of Oz. It was this latter masterpiece that would later inspire the Scarecrow name, with the iconic character embodying resilience, wisdom, and a sense of timelessness—qualities that mirror the estate’s old vines and its philosophy of patience and perfection.
In 1945, Cohn planted Cabernet Sauvignon on the estate’s Rutherford property. At the time, Cabernet was far from the dominant grape in Napa, but Cohn’s decision to plant it would prove prescient. The vines thrived in the gravelly loam soils of the Rutherford Bench and quickly established a reputation among local vintners for producing exceptional fruit. Over the decades, these grapes were sold to some of Napa’s most prestigious wineries, including Inglenook, Opus One, and Joseph Phelps, quietly shaping the backbone of Napa’s rise.
The most remarkable chapter came during the vine pull scheme of the 1980s, when many growers were incentivized to replant with higher-yielding clones. Unlike many of his neighbors, Cohn resisted. His decision preserved a genetic heritage of Cabernet Sauvignon that remains virtually unique in Napa today. Those original 1945 vines, still in production, are among the oldest Cabernet vines in the Valley and form the heartbeat of Scarecrow.
After J.J. Cohn’s death in 1996 at the age of 100, his grandson Bret Lopez inherited the property. Together with his wife Mimi DeBlasio, Lopez envisioned a winery that would both honor his grandfather’s legacy and elevate the vineyard to global recognition. In 2002, they recruited acclaimed winemaker Celia Welch, and the first vintage of Scarecrow was released in 2003. The name paid tribute to Cohn’s cinematic masterpiece The Wizard of Oz, and the wine instantly became one of Napa’s most coveted. Today, Scarecrow is synonymous with rarity and excellence, its limited releases snapped up by collectors worldwide.
The People
At the helm of Scarecrow are Bret Lopez and Mimi DeBlasio, who remain committed to preserving the family’s heritage while continually refining the estate’s wines. Their stewardship has ensured that Scarecrow’s reputation has grown without sacrificing its soul, keeping the focus firmly on the vineyard and its historical significance.
Celia Welch, the estate’s founding winemaker, remains the guiding hand behind the wines. One of Napa Valley’s most respected winemakers, Welch brings a philosophy of precision and restraint. Her approach is to let the vines speak for themselves, highlighting their unique voice rather than imposing a heavy-handed cellar style. Under her guidance, Scarecrow has achieved a level of finesse that balances power with elegance, producing Cabernets that are both approachable in youth and capable of evolving gracefully over decades.
Vineyards & Terroir
Scarecrow’s vineyards lie in the heart of Rutherford, one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated AVAs. The historic 1945 block is the crown jewel of the estate, producing Cabernet Sauvignon of extraordinary concentration and complexity. These vines, deeply rooted in well-drained gravelly loam soils, benefit from the region’s diurnal temperature swings—warm days that ripen the grapes and cool nights that preserve their acidity and aromatic freshness.
The wines embody the signature “Rutherford dust,” a term coined to describe the fine, powdery tannins that give structure and texture to the region’s Cabernets. Farming practices are focused on sustainability and stewardship, ensuring the health of the old vines for generations to come. Cover crops, minimal irrigation, and careful canopy management all contribute to maintaining balance in the vineyard, allowing each harvest to reflect the nuances of vintage and site.
Wine Portfolio
At the heart of the estate lies its flagship Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, produced in extremely limited quantities, often fewer than 1,000 cases per year. Each release is an event in the wine world, with allocations eagerly awaited and quickly sold out. The wine is celebrated for its opulence, structure, and remarkable ability to age, consistently ranking among Napa’s finest.
The estate also produces M. Étain, a second label crafted from both estate and younger-vine fruit. While more approachable in youth, M. Étain retains the hallmark intensity and precision of Scarecrow, offering a glimpse into the estate’s philosophy at a slightly more accessible price point. Together, these wines define the Scarecrow identity: deeply rooted in history, yet utterly contemporary in execution.
The wines
2003 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon – The Inaugural Vintage
The 2003 Scarecrow is a wine that signaled the birth of a new Napa legend. Deeply colored and richly aromatic, it opens with notes of cassis, blackberry compote, and dried violets, layered with graphite and cedar. On the palate, it is powerful yet finely textured, the tannins polished but commanding. Despite its youth at release, it showed remarkable balance, with a core of black fruit wrapped in earthy Rutherford dust. Today, it continues to evolve, revealing tobacco leaf, leather, and truffle tones alongside its enduring fruit, a testament to both the vineyard and the precision of Celia Welch’s winemaking.
2019 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon – A Modern Benchmark
From a near-perfect vintage in Napa, the 2019 Scarecrow is a striking example of the estate’s evolution. Aromas of black cherry, currant, dark chocolate, and lavender emerge in waves, accented by crushed stone and graphite. The palate is expansive yet poised, with layers of ripe fruit supported by silky, fine-grained tannins. There is an unmistakable purity to the fruit, lifted by bright acidity that carries through the long, resonant finish. While approachable now in its vibrancy, it promises decades of graceful aging, destined to join the pantheon of Scarecrow’s greatest vintages.
Five Notable Wineries Nearby
The prestige of Scarecrow is also reflected in its neighborhood, surrounded by some of Napa Valley’s most iconic producers. Just down the road, Inglenook stands as a monument to Napa’s history. Founded in 1879 by Gustave Niebaum, Inglenook has been painstakingly restored by Francis Ford Coppola and now produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Rubicon blends of remarkable depth and elegance, a seamless bridge between Napa’s past and present.
Equally storied is Beaulieu Vineyard (BV), where André Tchelistcheff, the “dean of American winemaking,” crafted legendary Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernets that helped shape Napa’s reputation in the 20th century. Today, BV remains one of the Valley’s cornerstones, producing wines of power and pedigree.
Not far from Scarecrow is Staglin Family Vineyard, known for both its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and its philanthropic contributions to mental health research. The Staglin wines are highly expressive of Rutherford’s terroir, combining richness with poise.
Also nearby lies Quintessa, a biodynamically farmed estate producing Bordeaux-inspired blends. Quintessa’s dedication to sustainability and holistic farming mirrors Scarecrow’s commitment to stewardship, and its wines are celebrated for their complexity and purity.
Finally, Caymus Vineyards, though larger in scale, is another Rutherford icon. The Wagner family’s Caymus Special Selection Cabernet has become a benchmark for plush, fruit-forward Napa Cabernet, beloved for its consistency and immediate appeal.
Together, these neighbors form a constellation of greatness, each with its own history and identity, yet all contributing to Rutherford’s reputation as the beating heart of Napa Cabernet.
