A very fine vintage in California especially for the top Cabernet and Merlot wines. Wines of classical structure with great longevity.

Napa Cabernet was especially successful while Sonoma Valley enjoyed similar weather and similar levels of high quality, with Kenwood's Artist Series, Silver Oak, and St. Jean leading the pack.

Red wines from 1978 developed well in general and lasted for up to 15-17 years. As ageing progressed, cooler Stags Leap District emerged as the star  region of the vintage, offering several successes and long-agers in this otherwise warm vintage.