Iconic Napa Valley winemaker Cakebread Cellars has been crafting wines for 50 years. In 2025, drawing on those decades of experience, the Cakebread family debuted a new lineup of wines straight from the heart of California’s Central Coast.
Bezel Wines launched nationwide this year, bringing the thoughtful craftsmanship used at Cakebread to a new and innovative range of fruit-driven and effortlessly enjoyable wines that add a modern twist to Cakebread’s legacy. Bezel takes its name from the ring that holds the timepiece in fine watchmaking, and just as a bezel secures something precious, Bezel wines are created with intention, striking a balance of artistry and quality.
From the label – which features Jack Cakebread’s own photography – to what’s inside the bottle, intentionality has been a part of their wines from the very beginning. Bezel’s winemaker, Australian native Jane Dunkley, worked in Italy and Portugal before falling in love with California’s Central Coast. She is a Master of Wine candidate, and she brings her decades of experience crafting wines to her work for Bezel.
The bright flavors and complex aromas of Bezel wines reflect the distinctive terroir of California’s Central Coast, with its warm days, cool coastal nights, and diverse soils. Bezel’s Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are shaped by by the unique environment of Paso Robles, whereas the maritime San Luis Obispo (SLO) Coast presents the ideal conditions for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Bezel’s vibrant, expressive wines feel balanced, fresh, and effortless — a style that makes them perfect for all occasions with character and versatility to elevate any gathering. From your college football tailgate to sitting around the fire on a camping trip, Bezel’s refreshing new wines travel beyond your backyard barbecue or girls night gathering. Consider bringing Bezel along to enjoy any moment.
Tailgating
When the smell of fall is in the air, leaves crunch underfoot, and there’s just the slightest chill, gathering with other fans at a tailgate before cheering on your favorite team is a fall tradition that’s as time-honored as turkey at Thanksgiving and as American as apple pie. As sausages and burgers sizzle on the brazier, don’t bother with a can of watered-down lager — open a bottle of Bezel Cabernet Sauvignon instead. Crafted in Paso Robles, the wine has classic flavors of black and red fruits and dark chocolate, and matches well with cool-weather eats. Paso Robles’ high desert climate is characterized by hot, sunny days and cool nights, creating the conditions that give grapes tannic structure and acidity. The result is Bezel Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine of complexity and nuance.
Camping
There’s something magical about sitting around a campfire, surrounded by the forest, sharing laughs and tall tales with friends. Bezel’s Chardonnay pairs well with foil packets cooked over an open flame and spooky stories by the fire. Created in the cool coastal climes of the San Luis Obispo (SLO) Coast, this Chardonnay has a mouthwatering acidity and fresh citrus profile. Aging in French oak and acacia barrels lend the wine a refreshing and zesty finish without overpowering the palate. Edna Valley, where the grapes are grown, is known for cool nights and foggy coastal mornings. Its long growing season gives the grapes plenty of hang time until they’re harvested at just the right moment.
Food Truck Festivals
Almost 20 years ago, intrepid chefs looking for affordable ways to operate kicked off a food truck craze that spread from coast to coast — and we can’t thank them enough. Gatherings of several trucks festival-style offer a chance to sample the wares of several chefs, flavor hopping through cuisines. Some food truck festivals will amp up the celebratory vibe by having live music and picnic tables, presenting an ideal opportunity to BYOB a bottle of Bezel’s Sauvignon Blanc. Characterized by its aromas of lime zest and pink grapefruit, this bright wine with balanced acidity easily matches a wide variety of foods. The vibrant flavor of Bezel’s Sauvignon Blanc comes from grapes harvested at two different ripeness levels — the ones from the early harvest provide tangy and herbaceous notes and the ones from the later harvest lend tropical aromatics.
Summer Concerts
Concerts in the park are a rite of summer, when blankets are spread over grass and coolers overflow with classic picnic dishes. The sounds of live music drift through the air while you sit back, relax, and enjoy the best part of the season. The only thing missing is a bottle of Bezel Chardonnay, an approachable and easy drinking white wine. Bezel’s 2023 Chardonnay benefitted from that year’s cool, late, and long harvest, giving the grapes a longer hang time for balanced flavors. Harvested at the peak of ripeness, this Chardonnay was a great vintage for Bezel — and the wine was worth waiting for those grapes to do their thing.
Lake Days
The lake lifestyle is all about days and evenings spent by the water boating, swimming, fishing, and relaxing. There’s nothing like the tranquility that atmosphere brings, and dropping anchor for a boat picnic is the recipe for a perfect afternoon. While you’re away from the shore, don’t forget to purchase a bottle of Bezel’s Cabernet Sauvignon, a fruity red that’s best enjoyed with your toes in the water. The extreme day and night temperature shifts of Paso Robles, along with vineyards located at the southern tip of the Santa Lucia Range, give the grapes used to make this wine a plush feel with classic Cabernet herbal characteristics. The flavors of Bezel’s 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon were influenced by that season’s early vintage, a late warm spell with unusual rainfall patterns. Cabernet Sauvignon is well suited to stressful conditions, resulting in concentrated berries with high tannins, making for an exquisite, complex wine.
This article is sponsored by Bezel Wines.
