A cat and her forever home
APRIL
CEC - Chief Executive Cat
Every great company has a leader. Ours just happens to have four paws.
For nearly 4 years, April called We Care Animal Rescue in St. Helena home. While countless families visited the shelter looking for a companion, April patiently waited for someone to choose her.
Then Eric did.
Today, she's the heart of Chateau Gato and the reason this company exists.
April spends her days supervising naps in sunny windows, accepting payments in chicken and steak, and making sure no lap goes unoccupied for too long. She remains highly suspicious of vacuum cleaners and squirrels, but fiercely committed to bedtime cuddles.
Every bottle we sell is inspired by her story and dedicated to helping more cats experience the same second chance she did.
We exist to help cats like April.
Château Gato was founded on a simple belief: remarkable things are often overlooked.
We search California for exceptional wines that have been left behind—not because they lack quality, but because they no longer fit a winery’s bottling plans or brand strategy. We bottle these hidden gems in small, hand-numbered batches, giving every Rescue a second chance to be discovered.
We see the same story in rescue cats. Incredible cats wait in shelters every day, overlooked not because of who they are, but because of circumstance.
That’s why Château Gato exists. Every bottle we rescue helps support the rescue of cats, bringing our mission to life:
"Drink Wine. Save Cats.
Our story began with April, the rescue cat who inspired Château Gato after Eric adopted her from We Care Animal Rescue. To honor the shelter that gave her a second chance, we’ve pledged our first $10,000 to We Care. As Château Gato grows, so will our impact.
Eric
2014
Eric
Co-Founder & Winemaker
Eric is a Napa Valley winemaker with more than fifteen harvests of experience across California, New Zealand, and Australia. Throughout his career, he has helped craft multiple 100-point wines while working alongside some of the industry's most respected wineries.
Eric believes some of California's most extraordinary wines are overlooked simply because they never find the right label or audience. He saw a remarkable similarity between those wines and April, a wonderful cat who spent years waiting for someone to recognize what made her special.
Today, Eric selects every Chateau Gato wine for one reason: it deserves to be discovered.
Wyatt
Today
Wyatt
Co-Founder & Brand Director
Wyatt leads the creative vision behind Chateau Gato, shaping everything from the brand's identity to the customer experience.
He believes great brands don't just sell products, they bring people together around a shared purpose. At Chateau Gato, that means building a community of wine lovers who know exactly where their support goes and can see the difference they're making for local shelters.
Drink Wine. Save Cats.
It’s That Simple!
1. Rescue Wine
We search California for hidden gems that were left behind-not because they’re bad, but because they never found the right home.
We bottle the entire batch, and call them Rescues.
2. Support Cat Shelters
Every bottle helps support local cat shelters through donations, community events, and partnerships that create real impact.
3. Enjoy the Rescue
You enjoy incredible California wine.
A shelter receives support.
Another cat gets a second chance.