We first planted Cabernet Sauvignon in Sonoma County in 1972, 12 years before Alexander Valley became an appellation. Back then, there weren’t very many vineyards here, much less opportunities to taste the wine from them. Alexander Valley was planted to prunes and apples and hops, mixed field blends for jug wine; Healdsburg was the Buckle of the Prune Belt; my dad was dreaming big and making wine in the basement. 30 years later, we made the first vintage of wine under our own name – Hawkes – 100% estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley, grown and crushed and barreled and bottled by our family.