Cakebread Cellars' story begins with a piece of land, a family passionate about wine, and a community of friends and partners who helped bring the winery to life. Since its founding in 1973, Cakebread Cellars has aimed to create quality wines that pair beautifully with good food and good company. The wines reflect the personalities of their estate vineyards as well as the spirit of the entire team. They take pride in sharing these wines—from their family to yours.
Bond offers four Napa Valley Red wines, Melbury, St. Eden, Vecina, and Pluribus. The wine not utilized for the final blends of Bond, then goes to create a second wine under the Matriarch label. I tasted a bottle of Matriarch recently and was very impressed with its silky nature.
Meet the Winemaker: Aaron Baer
Aaron Baer didn’t grow up in the vineyards, but he certainly learned the value of hard work. As the son of a general contractor and finish carpenter, his childhood was filled with the scents of sawdust and the rhythm of construction. While most kids were playing after school, Aaron was busy planning raw materials and sanding finishes, understanding early on that in a family business, a sick day meant heading to work.
His wine journey began serendipitously during high school, when his parents took on a project to build a condo atop a barn on a vineyard. There, Aaron got his hands dirty shoveling Petite Sirah grapes into a destemmer, igniting a newfound passion for winemaking. As they produced more wine in that makeshift winery, Aaron realized this wasn’t just a hobby—it was a calling.
With his family becoming shareholders in the vineyard, wine officially became part of their family business. Fueled by enthusiasm, he applied to Fresno State and Cal Poly, eventually choosing Cal Poly for its proximity to Paso Robles and its robust winemaking program. Graduating with a degree in Enology and a minor in Agricultural Business, he stepped into the world of wine with a ticket to Australia in hand.
In early 2015, Aaron found himself at Elderton Winery, working with 100-year-old Shiraz vines in the Barossa Valley. This eye-opening experience led him to a collaboration with Guillaume Fabre of Clos Solene, where he honed his skills further in the cellar. By spring 2016, Aaron was off to Bordeaux to work in the vineyards of Petrus, followed by a stint at Domaine La Barroche in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, soaking in the rich history and techniques of winemaking.
After returning to the Central Coast and spending time as a filtration technician, Aaron was eager to dive back into winemaking. He landed at Realm Cellars during a tumultuous harvest marked by wildfires, an experience that shifted his perspective and ultimately drew him back to Paso Robles to work closer to his family.
In 2018, he seized an opportunity at Sine Qua Non, applying techniques he had learned abroad. When his father sent encouraging reports about their family vineyard, Solana, Aaron couldn’t resist the urge to create a small batch of wine, which he named Un Petit Début.
By 2019, Aaron had fully returned home, producing a wine he aptly named Le Retour as a tribute to his journey. Each release is a nod to his French mentors, reflecting his appreciation for those who guided him along the way.
Aaron’s brand, ALLBAER, honors the unwavering support of his family, who have been his greatest cheerleaders. With every bottle, he not only shares his passion for California wine but also a heartfelt tribute to those who helped him along the way. New beginnings and the adventures that await in every glass!
Photo courtesy of photographer Randy Caparoso
