OUR STORY
At Stewart Cellars, it's the quest that inspires us. The quest for the ideal site, for consistently lush fruit, for the like-minded grower who labors toward the perfect expression of a vineyard. We build lasting relationships with viticulturists and together we test the limits of what an exceptional patch of soil can yield. Our requirement for the resulting wine is simple: it must deliver beyond expectation every time.
Our quest takes us to some of the most respected vineyards across the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Our focus is on vineyard designate wines that exemplify the terroir of their respective vineyards. Our intention with each bottle, is that we fulfill our promise a thousand times over – only the best of the best bears the Stewart family name.
Stewart Cellars begins and ends with family. We are dedicated to making something tangible and enduring, something expressive of each person's gifts.
Founded in 2000, Stewart Cellars is the collaborative project of founder Michael Stewart, his son James Stewart, daughter Caroline Stewart Guthrie, and son-in-law Blair Guthrie. Together, the family oversees all aspects of the winery’s operations: James, an artist who left behind a burgeoning career in television and music for hands-on work in sales, marketing and distribution; Caroline, who leads the day to day operations along with each wine’s development; and Blair, the winemaker who works closely alongside our acclaimed consulting winemaker to capture the signature terroir of Stewart’s premier vineyards and vineyard sources.
For these two generations and for the Stewart clan of tomorrow, the ambition remains the same: respect the terroir, source the best fruit, strive for perfection, and embrace the elegance of the human touch.
Michael Stewart
CEO & Founder
When Michael Stewart sold the technology company he founded and ran for 25 years in Texas, he knew that his next venture would in some way allow him to capitalize on a longtime interest in wine. He made several trips to the Napa Valley over the years and was charmed by the idea of settling here and building a family business. In 2000, Michael launched Stewart Cellars with small inaugural releases of hand-crafted Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir sourced from some of the finest vineyards in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. With both son James and daughter Caroline now on board at Stewart Cellars, Michael's dream for the Stewart clan to set down permanent roots in Napa Valley has come true.
James Stewart
Co-Proprietor
James Stewart is one of Napa Valley’s next-generation winemakers assuming central roles in legacy wine businesses. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, he came to the Valley in 2006 to partner with his father, Michael, in running Stewart Cellars. Following a product from the dirt to the shelf greatly appeals to him; moving his family's wines through the marketplace without having to compromise their standards or beliefs is what he finds most rewarding about his work. Like many of his peers, James is focused on issues surrounding sustainability, preservation, labor practices and maintaining family-owned businesses in Napa Valley. He enjoys charity work and fundraising, but is most intent on spreading the message that Napa Valley is for everyone and that Stewart Cellars, and the other family-owned businesses here, make wines first and foremost for people's enjoyment.
Caroline Stewart Guthrie
Co-Proprietor
Raised in Texas and trained in economics at Southern Methodist University, Caroline Stewart has a keen mind for numbers, like her father Michael, and a nuanced palate, like her mother Anne. Drawing on those strengths, her first job after college was as a wine rep at Republic National Distributing Company. Following that experience, Caroline was a cellar’s hand at Paul Hobbs Vina Cobos in Mendoza, Argentina, where she immersed herself in the local culture. Returning to the States to work at Paul Hobb’s Crossbarn in California, Caroline continued her hands-on training, embracing the long hours and exhaustive labors involved in crafting beautiful wines. It was while serving as a cellar’s hand at Crossbarn that Caroline met her future husband, Blair Guthrie, a native New Zealander who shared her staunch work ethic and her love for wine. Today, Caroline ensures the family business runs smoothly while not only crafting elegant and beautiful wines, but also building the family’s brand.
Blair Guthrie
Winemaker & Vineyard Manager
Born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand, Blair excelled in sports and art, playing rugby, basketball and cricket, while pursuing an interest in graphic design. The skills he developed in those areas come in handy as a winemaker today with what he describes as an athlete’s competitiveness, a creative eye and an artist’s enthusiasm for winemaking. With a national certificate in graphic design, earned in New Zealand, and a post-graduate degree in oenology and viticulture, Blair got his start in wine in 2009 as a harvest intern at Paul Hobb’s Crossbarn in California, where he met his wife, Caroline Stewart. Together the couple moved to South Australia, where Blair assumed a job as assistant winemaker at BK Wines. As much as Blair and Caroline loved life down under, California was where they saw their future. Returning to Napa Valley in 2012, Blair was named assistant winemaker at Kunde Family Winery, a position he held for three years. In 2015, Blair joined the Stewart Cellars team as winemaker and vineyard manager, displaying the same passion he brings to being a husband and father as he does his work in the vineyards and cellar.