The story behind Shafer
John Shafer left a Chicago publishing career in 1972 and planted vines on a steep, rocky amphitheater in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. The first commercial vintage came in 1978, and in a 1993 retrospective tasting in Germany that debut Cabernet placed first, ahead of Chateau Latour and Chateau Margaux. Shafer has been named a Wine & Spirits Top 100 Winery 14 times since 1991, and John and Doug Shafer took the James Beard award for Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional in 2010.
The estate runs on thin volcanic soils and cooling San Francisco Bay breezes, and became the first 100% solar powered winery in the U.S. in 2004. Flagship reds rest up to 28 to 32 months in 100% new French oak, mostly Allier and Tronçais. In 2022 the Shafer family sold the estate to Shinsegae Property of South Korea.
Explore the Shafer range
Four Shafer bottlings reach our Commack shelves, from the Syrah and Petite Sirah blend to the estate hillside Cabernet that collectors cellar for decades.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon | Cabernet Sauvignon | 15.5% ABV | 100% estate hillside Cabernet, 100% new French oak, graphite and cocoa |
| One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon | Cabernet Sauvignon blend | 15.3% ABV | Cabernet with Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, dark fruit and firm tannin |
| Relentless | Syrah and Petite Sirah | Generally 15% ABV and up | Inky, peppery, structured, built for grilled and braised red meat |
| Merlot (2007) | Merlot | Generally 14 to 15% ABV | Mature Napa Merlot, soft plum and cedar, drinking now |
| TD-9 | Proprietary red blend | Generally 14 to 15% ABV | Cabernet based blend, approachable young, black cherry and oak |
Which Shafer is right for you?
Shafer pricing at our store runs from $59.99 for the 2007 Merlot to $299.99 for Hillside Select, with Relentless at $69.98 and One Point Five Cabernet at $89.99. Those are real shelf numbers, not estimates, and they sit below the typical national retail tier on the flagship. Availability moves fast on the hillside bottlings, so call (631) 343-7200 before you drive over and we will confirm what is on the shelf that day. You can buy Shafer online for local delivery and pickup, and we will hold a bottle for you at the counter.
Syrah and Petite Sirah weight that stands up to a ribeye without a special occasion.
Stags Leap Cabernet at $89.99, decanted an hour, for the dinner that matters.
Estate hillside Cabernet built to rest 20 to 40 years in the rack.