Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignon is my latest endeavor and a personal labor of love.
~Michael Trujillo,
Winemaker & Founder
About Michael
Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignon is my latest endeavor and a personal labor of love. Inspiration for this wine traces back to 1982, when I first arrived in Napa Valley from my family’s farm in Colorado. I grew up helping my father year-round in the fields, and learned early on about how soil, climate, pests and critters affect living, growing plants.
After four decades of winemaking experience in all aspects of the business—from vineyard cultivation and irrigation digging, to cooperage selection and blending—I’m proud to now offer my own namesake Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is a realization of my lifelong passion for crafting red wine, an expression of all that I’ve learned and deeply value about winemaking in the Napa Valley.
Michael Trujillo
Biography
Growing up on a multigenerational ranch, Michael Trujillo worked acres of hay, barley, and vegetables alongside sheep and cattle on land stewarded by his family for generations. His grandparents—early-century homesteaders of Spanish descent—settled in Colorado, raising their children in a rich agricultural tradition rooted in hard work and respect for the land.
From an early age, Michael learned the value and reward of ranch life. “I’ve always been in motion,” he recalls. “Branding cows and driving hay trucks since the age of four.” Ranch work instilled old-world craft skills, a love of tinkering with farm equipment, and an understanding of how to grow crops in uncertain weather—lessons that would later prove invaluable in cultivating grapes and crafting wine.
Michael discovered his passion for winemaking in the early 1980s while studying engineering in college. During a spring break road trip to California, he stayed with a family friend who owned a small winery in Napa Valley. The visit proved life changing. Working alongside Jim Allen and his brother Steve, Michael helped plant Sequoia Grove’s vineyard on the Rutherford Bench, setting the course for his future in wine.
For his namesake wine, Michael sources grapes from several of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards and works closely with growers to develop cultivation practices that consistently yield exceptional fruit. Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignon is the culmination of Michael’s history, knowledge, and experience—uniting his deep love of the vineyard with more than 40 years of winemaking expertise.
When Michael launched Trujillo Wines, the inaugural 2011 vintage sold out quickly, inspiring the creation of a second label focused on expressive varietal blends. Madelyn Wines are crafted to be approachable upon release, reflecting Michael’s belief that great wine should be both distinctive and immediately enjoyable.
“Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignon represents the culmination of my four decades of winemaking experience, deeply rooted in my upbringing in Colorado’s farming landscape. In 1982, I ventured into Napa Valley, where my understanding of the intricate relationship between soil, climate, and the ecosystems surrounding grapevines blossomed. With six outstanding vintages among my forty years of dedication, each bottle reflects not only my passion for crafting exceptional red wine but also a rich legacy that honors the art of winemaking.”
-Michael Trujillo, Winemaker