Our Story

Beginning with the very first vintage, all Cedar Creek wines are labeled “Estate Grown.” This guarantees a consistently superior level of quality and it means that Cedar Creek is committed to the place in which the wines are grown. We farm our 5 wine grape varieties naturally using no artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Our wines are made using wild yeast fermentation, native to the land, hand-crafted with passion and diligence making balanced, elegant wines that can be served to the most discriminating wine drinkers.

All our wines are single vineyard, limited production and each is carefully nurtured and allowed to develop and reveal itself in its own time. No wine is enhanced or rushed. This allows the wines to be well integrated and develop tremendous depth and complexity, fragrant bouquets, and express the “terroir” from which they came. Our Syrah, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon are barrel aged in the best French Oak available, then bottle aged in our cellar from 3-6 years before released. Our Viognier is barrel fermented “sur lie” in traditional style with utmost care for the fruit. Our Sangiovese is also made in traditional Chianti Style to showcase the food friendliness of this amazing varietal.

“I love the intimacy of knowing each vintage. I have farmed the vineyards for over 20 years and remember each year clearly and what made that year unique.”

Known to locals and fellow winemakers as a "purist" in her approach to viticulture and wine making, Karen J. Wood is a triple threat in the wine industry. She owns the land, farms the grapes and makes the wine! Her wines are well-known with the locals with several national and international awards to add.

Karen believes farming the grapes is the most important aspect of wine making. She is intimate with her vineyards and patient; letting both the grapes and wine reveal themselves in their time, neither adding to or taking from the fruit during the wine making process.

"The vines never let go of their fruit, there is an attachment that never ends as the wines develop and age and each vintage brings out something different from their parents. Very similar to children bringing out the best of their parents. I like to see where they lead and how they each develop their own character. I am constantly learning."

“Wine growing is a marathon business. A slow process that requires patience and commitment to a place, lots of courage and believing in yourself.” “There is no fast forward, you have to trust nature and uncover the uniqueness of each vintage and you are always learning and discovering new things.”  Karen has been in the Sierra Foothills wine industry for 22 years and she founded Cedar Creek Ranch Winery in 1999. The beautiful ranch estate sits on 80 acres of oak studded hillsides and is loaded with wildlife; she is at ease on the ranch with her beloved spouse  with her horses to tend to as well.

Book a tasting with Cedar Creek and you’ll not only learn about how she manages 5 single vineyard blocks but she will share her infectious happiness and inspire you to slow down and enjoy quality of life doing what you love to do.