Winemaking
Winemaker - Cardiff Scott-Robinson
As the winemaker for Paraduxx, Cardiff Scott-Robinson embraces the artistry of creating exceptional contemporary blends that showcase the alluring character and complexity that have made Napa Valley famous. Combining winemaking experience gained on two continents with a mastery of multiple grape varieties and a love of blending, Cardiff works with the finest Estate and grower vineyards to make Paraduxx’s acclaimed lineup of Napa Valley blends. At the same time, whether it’s the Super Tuscans, the famed Cabernet-Shiraz blends of Australia or the great wines of Rhône and Bordeaux, Cardiff takes inspiration from the world’s most revered blends to craft Napa Valley wines with a deep and distinctive sense of place.
Cardiff grew up on a five-acre horse ranch in Winters, California, where he developed a deep love of the land. After graduating from Sonoma State University with a wine-focused degree in business marketing and management, Cardiff began his career at Harvest Moon Winery, before joining the Duckhorn Portfolio team in 2006. Though Cardiff spent the next two years focusing on marketing and hospitality, he quickly kindled a passion for winemaking. Eager to gain hands-on experience, Cardiff spent a southern hemisphere harvest at New Zealand’s renowned CJ Pask Winery, before returning to California to work at Napa Valley’s renowned Lewis Cellars.
In 2009, Cardiff rejoined the Duckhorn Portfolio as a member of the Paraduxx winemaking team. He quickly established himself as a rising star and was promoted from cellar worker to assistant winemaker to associate winemaker and ultimately winemaker. Mentored along the way by former Paraduxx winemakers David Marchesi and Don LaBorde, and other members of the acclaimed Duckhorn Portfolio team, Cardiff learned the Paraduxx way from the ground up.
“I have been fortunate to learn my craft from some of the finest winemakers in America, including Duckhorn Vineyards Winemaker Renée Ary,” says Cardiff. “Our approach to winemaking at the Duckhorn Portfolio is exacting, but we also believe in the value of innovation and exploration—especially at Paraduxx. I get to work with the finest fruit in the world and make wines that are not limited to specific grape varieties, or varietal percentages. We create our own benchmarks at Paraduxx. This gives us remarkable freedom to create iconic and compelling blends that embody the rich diversity of Napa Valley.”
Since being founded in 1994, Paraduxx has earned acclaim as the only winery solely devoted to stylish Napa Valley wine blends. Artfully crafted to appeal to the modern palate, the visionary blends of the Paraduxx portfolio have established a reputation for their bold, expressive character and their food-friendly sophistication.
All of the wines in the Paraduxx portfolio are made in a state-of-the art winery that was unveiled in 2005. The centerpiece of the Paraduxx winery is a unique 10-sided fermentation building inspired by traditional round barns. Flanking the fermentation building are two symmetrical barrel cellars, partially set below grade to allow gravity flow of the fermented wine to oak barrels for aging. The luxuriously appointed Paraduxx Vineyard House welcomes guests for an array of intimate sit-down tasting experiences.
Committed to Quality
Fusing the grandeur of Cabernet Sauvignon with the robust flavors of California's native Zinfandel, Paraduxx's premiere bottling embraced the best of both core varietals to produce a world-class blend with a decidedly Californian personality. With a nod to the great red wine blends of the world-from the Super Tuscan wines of Italy to the Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon blends of Australia-this wine became Paraduxx's flagship bottling. It also became a template for future blends, creating a philosophy to guide the exploration of the union of different varietals. This philosophy can be seen across the portfolio, where every wine blend features at least one non-Bordeaux varietal. Cardiff Scott-Robinson strives to create blends that capture the essence of Napa Valley terroir - wines that are inherently ripe, robust and compelling, but also impeccably balanced, with the depth, complexity and acidity to complement modern cuisine.
Dedicated to attaining new benchmarks for wine blends in California, Cardiff combines consummate Napa viticulture with a vibrant approach to winemaking. Understanding that each vineyard block is as one-of-a-kind as a fingerprint, he harvests and barrel ages each lot of fruit separately. These lots come from four acclaimed estate vineyards, as well as a selection of fruit from some of the finest growers in the Napa Valley.
Committed to Quality
Fusing the grandeur of Cabernet Sauvignon with the robust flavors of California's native Zinfandel, Paraduxx's premiere bottling embraced the best of both core varietals to produce a world-class blend with a decidedly Californian personality. With a nod to the great red wine blends of the world-from the Super Tuscan wines of Italy to the Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon blends of Australia-this wine became Paraduxx's flagship bottling. It also became a template for future blends, creating a philosophy to guide the exploration of the union of different varietals. This philosophy can be seen across the portfolio, where every wine blend features at least one non-Bordeaux varietal. Cardiff Scott-Robinson strives to create blends that capture the essence of Napa Valley terroir - wines that are inherently ripe, robust and compelling, but also impeccably balanced, with the depth, complexity and acidity to complement modern cuisine.
Dedicated to attaining new benchmarks for wine blends in California, Cardiff combines consummate Napa viticulture with a vibrant approach to winemaking. Understanding that each vineyard block is as one-of-a-kind as a fingerprint, he harvests and barrel ages each lot of fruit separately. These lots come from four acclaimed estate vineyards, as well as a selection of fruit from some of the finest growers in the Napa Valley.