It looks like the Araujos have sold Accendo cellars to some of their grower partners (the Bettinelli and Bittner families). Interesting news bother that the Araujos, who have been making wine in Napa for decades, are pulling back, and that some notable growers like the Bettinellis are now going to have their own label.
Here is the email they sent out:
Dear friends,
Since its founding in 2013, Accendo Cellars set out to capture the spirit of Napa Valley’s golden era by producing wines of depth, elegance, and place — classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc crafted with the aspiration to stand among the finest wines of the world. These wines have always been inspired by the land, its history, and the growers who understand its true potential — an enduring pursuit of purity and distinction rooted in the nobility of Napa Valley terroir.
Today, we write to share a meaningful transition. After more than a decade of devotion to this vision from the Araujo family, we’re proud to announce the passing of the torch to Accendo’s grapegrowers — the Bettinelli and Bittner families.
As longtime vineyard partners to the Araujo family — and as stewards of some of Napa’s most respected sites — we are honored to share that Giancarlo Bettinelli (fifth-generation Napa Valley grapegrower), Paul Goldberg (Giancarlo’s brother-in-law and the 2024 Napa Valley Grower of the Year) and Jack Bittner (30-year wine industry veteran and Napa Valley grapegrower) will carry forward the Accendo legacy. With their leadership, Accendo Cellars becomes Accendo Estate. This is not a reinvention, but a continuation: a generational commitment to excellence, guided by the same values and many of the same hands that have shaped Accendo from the beginning, with care, intention, and integrity in every detail.
The Bettinelli and Bittner families are now the guardians of Accendo’s library wines, current releases, and the unblended and unbottled 2023 and 2024 vintages. For years, their estate vineyards — Sleeping Lady, Upper Range, and Ecotone — have quietly formed the foundation of the Accendo blend, consistently contributing the core fruit that defines the wine’s character and elegance. This fall, the first harvest under the new grower-owned chapter of Accendo Estate will begin at these very same sites. Nigel Kinsman remains in his role as winemaker, now for both Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit will continue to be vinified at Wheeler Farms, where the wines of Accendo have always taken shape with precision and care. The next release is scheduled for autumn 2025, and we look forward to sharing what’s ahead. If you wish to purchase any wines before that time, please access your account via the button below.
