Dakota Shy

Dakota Shy grew out of the passion that friends and colleagues, Todd Newman and Tom Garrett, have for the wines, history and vineyards of Napa Valley. Their goal is to craft wines of substance and place that rival the best of what Napa Valley has to offer; from the pinnacle of quality and luxury to world-class Cabernet Sauvignon that can proudly be placed on the table and enjoyed every week.

After years of working together at Revana Family Vineyard, under the tutelage of Napa Valley winemaking legends Heidi Barrett and Thomas Brown, and vineyard manager Jim Barbour, these two friends set out with a determination to create a world-class estate of their own. They began by sourcing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from a range of great vineyards throughout Napa Valley. These vineyards represent the arch of grape growing history in the valley from old, trusted sources to new, highly regarded plantings. Produced in limited quantities, their handcrafted Cabernets reflect the highest expression of the vintage.

Having the ability to work amongst the best in Napa Valley, Todd realized early on that to thrive in such a competitive industry you must surround yourself with elite individuals that will bring their strengths to the table. Together, you can begin to build a foundation that will set the course for success in creating the best wines Napa Valley has to offer. At the core of the team are Todd Newman, Tom Garret, and Ryan Clark.

Todd and Tom worked together at Revana from 2005 until 2012 where they were responsible for the building-out two wineries and their brand identities. They have worked together every day since and share a partnership in Dakota Shy that began as a dream in the early days of wondering if and when something like Dakota Shy could ever take shape.

To Dakota Shy, Tom brings his combination of a calm, quiet personae, a drive for perfection in the wines he crafts and deep roots in, and understanding of, the wines of Napa Valley. A best friend, a business partner, a role model to look up to in life and the pursuit of the things that matter most. He is essential to the success and the direction of Dakota Shy and will forever be its first family member.

Not long after, Ryan Clark had moved to Napa Valley to pursue his love of wine; he and Todd met at a tasting Todd hosted at Revana. Ryan has visited some five hundred wineries since that fateful meeting, but Revana was one of his very first. There was no question that should time present itself down the road, he would be a critical asset to take the brand Dakota Shy to the forefront of next generation Cult Cabernet Producers. Ryan’s unique talents and incredible knowledge of the immediate industry around him helps propel Dakota Shy Wines to the forefront industry evolution, and has proven to be a vital addition to the Dakota Shy Family.

Singularly the most important piece to the overall success of Dakota Shy has been their ability to lock down some of the new and most exciting vineyards coming out of Napa Valley: next generation sites sure to become legendary.

Dakota Shy sources grapes from all over the Napa Valley: from the mountains of Howell and Veeder, to the hills of Pritchard and bench of Oak Knoll, and the stunning Napa Valley floor AVAs of Oakville, St. Helena and Calistoga. All of these sites offer unique characters that Dakota Shy focuses on to highlight the differences between what to expect from valley floor fruit versus the powerful mountain wines. It is known that only the best grapes make the best wines, period. 

Dakota Shy purchased an estate in the heart of Napa Valley at the base of Pritchard Hill in 2013. Its history dates back all the way to the 1850’s when George Yount took possession of the land from the Spanish Government. Beautiful redwoods and magnolia’s dot the estate along with a 1.2 acres of Italian and Spanish olives from which Dakota Shy makes their own oils. As Todd says, there is so much soul here you can’t help but be awed by the majestic beauty of the property. A foundation is critical to laying out the expectation of what to anticipate from the wines. With hopes of someday building a facility onsite that will focus solely as the incubator of next generation winemaking.

We are passionate about how we live, where we live and the wines that define our valley. Honoring where we come from and how we got here, Dakota Shy embodies our respect for the fortune we have of being part of the Napa Valley, its community and its history. We strive to make the greatest Cabernets with an appreciation for the land and legacy of this valley, and with a desire to share our passion with others: bringing the best of what Napa Valley has to offer, to share with those with a love for great Cabernet.