“You, a winemaker? No one would hire a woman winemaker.” That was the reaction Cathy Corison’s professor had in 1978 when she was studying oenology to become a winemaker. Decades later, women now represent roughly 10 percent of the winemakers across California’s 3,700 wineries, and Corison has become a leading figure among them. After working in several wineries, she founded and has owned Corison Winery since 1987, building an international reputation for producing elegant, well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Unlike many regional Cabernets that can reach 15% alcohol or higher, Cathy Corison’s wines consistently stay at or below 14% alcohol—an intentional choice to preserve balance and nuance.
“It’s all about balance, maintaining the fruit flavors, characteristics and complexities,” Corison explains. Her approach begins in the vineyard. Corison owns the 8-acre Kronos vineyard and sources additional fruit from four neighboring vineyards. All are planted on benchland with well-drained, gravelly bale loam soils, conditions that suit Cabernet Sauvignon and allow the grapes to develop focused flavors without excessive sugar accumulation. In the winery she ages her wines in French oak for around 22 months and then allows them additional bottle age before release, further refining texture and integration.
Corison produces two primary Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings: a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from fruit grown in the surrounding vineyards and the single-vineyard Kronos Cabernet. In a recent tasting of four wines, each demonstrated the stylistic traits she pursues—restraint, clarity and layered fruit.
The 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($110) is a beautifully composed wine: balanced and refined while still rich and inviting. Aromas of plum and dark berry lead to a palate that is smooth and polished. The 2011 Napa Valley Cabernet ($80) presents dark cherry, plum and spice notes with a silk-like texture; despite the challenges of that vintage, it shows strength and balance, delivering ripe flavors without excess weight.
The Kronos bottlings represent the estate vineyard’s concentrated expression. Kronos 2008 ($210) shows aromas of plum, cassis and dark berries, with supple, fine texture and a complex, forward palate. The wine is remarkably even and balanced, free of hot spots or jarring elements—an example of a Napa Cabernet at its best. Kronos 2011 ($150) demonstrates Corison’s skill in cooler years: the vintage posed ripening challenges, yet she produced an elegant, tightly knit wine with poised flavors and graceful structure.
Beyond winemaking, Corison’s attention to detail is reflected in the winery itself. Her husband, William Martin, designed the Victorian-style barn that houses the operation. The label art and packaging carry symbolic touches: a life symbol with ancient roots adorns the label, and a sprouting seed motif appears on the cork, underscoring themes of continuity and growth. Looking back at her career and forward to future vintages, Corison Winery stands as a testament to disciplined viticulture, thoughtful winemaking and a commitment to balanced Cabernet Sauvignon.