Dakota Shy Social Currency Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2023

Founded by long-time friends Todd Newman and Napa winemaker Tom Garrett, Dakota Shy’s story is one of humble beginnings. This journey differs from most capital-intensive wine brands in Napa Valley. Originally from North Dakota, Todd attended the University of Oregon, where he developed a passion for food and wine while working at restaurants to pay his tuition. In 2003, Todd moved to Napa Valley when his friend, Master Sommelier Dennis Kelly, arranged a job for him at the famed Martini House in St. Helena. Under the guidance of this Michelin-starred restaurant, he learned the wine business through the lens of hospitality and service. While Todd was working at Martini House, Tom Garrett was working at the nearby Revana Family Vineyard and noticed that Martini House was selling a substantial amount of Revana’s wine. Much of that had to do with Todd and his interest in the wines. Todd was passionate not only about selling wine but also about learning about its production. So, in 2005, Tom hired him to work in the cellar at Revana under the direction of world-famous winemakers Heidi Barrett and later Thomas Brown. Over time, Todd transitioned from assisting with winemaking in the cellar to directing Revana’s national sales program, and the rest is history!

Tom’s family roots in Napa Valley date back to the early 1950s when his great-grandmother purchased a property in Oakville (which was part of the original To Kalon Vineyard). Fifty years later, Tom began Detert Family Vineyard, named after his great-grandmother and made from his family’s legendary vineyard. Tom honed his craft over the years, working alongside other great winemakers and mentors at Turley Wine Cellars, Joseph Phelps Winery, Robert Mondavi, and Revana. In addition to Dakota Shy, Tom continues to make his family’s highly regarded Detert wines.

After years of working together at Revana Family Vineyard, these two friends set out to create a world-class estate of their own in 2012 with their first commercial vintage. In 2014, Todd and Tom purchased an estate in the heart of Napa Valley, situated at the base of Pritchard Hill. The property was first established in the 1850s when George Yount took possession via a Spanish land grant. Beautiful redwood and magnolia trees dot the estate along with 1.2 acres of Italian and Spanish olives from which Dakota Shy presses their olive oil. As Todd says, “There is so much soul here; you can’t help but be moved by the beauty and history of the property.” Tom designed a small yet functional winery on the property, and construction finished in time for the first harvest on site in 2017. The brand name is a reference to Todd’s college-time nickname. He was a timid student, and some of his friends started referring to him as ‘Dakota Shy’ because of his home state of North Dakota and quiet nature. The lantern that adorns the label symbolizes the work ethic Todd acquired growing up in the Midwest, “first one in, last one out; the light will lead you.”

Previously only released via Dakota Shy mailing list allocation, we present the 2023 Social Currency Cabernet Sauvignon to our Apex club members. A blend of two dichotomous vineyards in Napa Valley, this wine is a celebration of the bonds created when congregating around a table to share a bottle with friends and family. The memories and connections forged in these gatherings were the inspiration for the special bottling, which shows that bringing together unlikely components can build a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Tom sourced Cabernet from two vineyards, one on Mount Veeder and one lying in the Oak Knoll District. From the hillside on Mount Veeder, the Cabernet flaunts big, structured tannins and sustained acidity, while the Oak Knoll fruit displays a lavish and decadent fruit profile with intriguing texture. The wine aged for 18 months in 70% new French oak barrels, and only Todd and Tom produced only 350 cases.