09/21 MORGEN MCLAUGHLIN, SANTA BARBARA VINTNERS, CELEBRATION OF HARVEST WEEKEND

MORGEN MCLAUGHLIN - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SANTA BARBARA VINTNERS - CELEBRATION OF HARVEST WEEKEND (OCTOBER 9-12)

VINTNERS  VISA
Santa Barbara  Wine Country October 9 - 12
The Vintners' Visa gives you one complimentary wine tasting at 12 different wineries throughout Santa Barbara County for $60.
(Only $50 when purchased with a Festival ticket!)
The Visa lasts for the entire Celebration of Harvest Weekend starting on Friday, October 9 until Monday, October 12.

HARVEST  FESTIVAL
Old Mission Santa Inés, Solvang  Saturday, October 10 1:00 - 4:00pm
The highlight of the Celebration of Harvest Weekend is the Festival... a Grand Tasting and Silent Auction on Saturday, October 10 at Old Mission Santa Inés. Taste wine from all 120+ winery members, enjoy food sampling from the area’s finest restaurants, caterers, and food purveyors, and listen to live music.

OTHER EVENTS
Santa Barbara Wine Country October 9 - 12
In addition to the Celebration of Harvest Festival Saturday afternoon, many wineries are also offering special events - winemaker dinners, barrel tastings, library sales. Get to know your favorite winery, visit vineyards and restaurants you've been wanting to check out, or learn what goes into making these fabulous Santa Barbara County wines!

WWW.SBCOUNTYWINES.COM
WWW.CELEBRATIONOFHARVEST.COM

09/14 AMANDA WITTSTROM HIGGINS, ANCIENT PEAKS WINERY, SUNSET SAVOR THE CENTRAL COAST, LARRY VAN AALST, THE SONOMA WINE REPORT

AMANDA WITTSTROM HIGGINS - VP OF OPERATIONS, ANCIENT PEAKS WINERY – SUNSET SAVOR THE CENTRAL COAST WINEMAKER DINNER

OUR STORY - Ancient Peaks Winery represents the shared vision of three longtime local winegrowing and ranching families—the Filipponis, Rossis and Wittstroms. Two generations are actively involved in the winery’s daily operations, all dedicated to producing extraordinary wines from Margarita Vineyard.

ORIGINS OF ANCIENT PEAKS  - Rob Rossi acquired Santa Margarita Ranch in 1999. His friends Doug Filipponi and Karl Wittstrom soon joined him as partners in the ownership of the ranch, which they had all regarded as a special property for many years. That same year, the Robert Mondavi family planted Margarita Vineyard on the ranch under a lease agreement (click here for more background on the Mondavi connection).  In 2005, the three families acquired ownership and control of Margarita Vineyard. The obvious potential of the vineyard ultimately inspired the three families to become vintners as well as winegrowers. They knew that they could cherry-pick their favorite blocks and make distinctive wines with a strong sense of place.   The name Ancient Peaks was chosen to honor the towering Santa Lucia Mountains that border Margarita Vineyard. These peaks define the land’s complex geology and regulate the vineyard’s climate, ultimately shaping the character of the wines.

A RICH VITICULTURAL HISTORY - Santa Margarita Ranch enjoys a long and illustrious cultural pedigree, beginning with the Chumash and Salinan Indians more than 10,000 years ago. In the 1770s, the ranch became part of Father Junipero Serra’s famed Mission trail Grapes were first planted at the ranch by Franciscan missionaries in 1780. Today, Santa Margarita Ranch remains one of California’s oldest continuously operated cattle ranches. We are proud to be stewards of the ranch’s winemaking tradition and its legacy of early California rancho hospitality.

SAVOR THE CENTRAL COAST WINEMAKER DINNER
Date: Fri, Sep 25, 2015
Time 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Venue: Paso Robles Inn

With its carefully-crafted plates that bring together the fresh ingredients of California’s Central Coast to the beautiful backdrops and landscapes of its grounds, the historic Paso Robles Inn welcomes diners to a four-course wine paired dinner with the award-winning Ancient Peaks winery. Open to only 40 guests, this experience is brought to the table by generations of farmers and purveyors whose produce is featured throughout the menu, creating dishes that are abundantly flavorful and naturally tender. Ancient Peaks estate Margarita Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles Region tucked beneath the peaks of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Join these proud stewards of their land as they share in their wines, building memories to take home for a lifetime. $125 per person

MORE INFO ON SAVOR THE CENTRAL COAST
All roads lead to SAVOR, September 24 - 27, 2015 during the sixth annual Volvo Presents Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast.

OPENING NIGHT - Volvo presents Sunset SAVOR The Central Coast, California’s premier food, wine, travel and lifestyle event, reveals details surrounding its all-new opening night experience, Strings at Sunset. This highly anticipated taste bud-tempting, gasp-worthy kickoff on Thursday, September 24 transforms the Vina Robles Amphitheatre like you’ve never seen it before.  Join us as the Amphitheatre morphs into a multi-sensory wonderland featuring theatrical performances from award-winning artists String Theory and DJ Violinist Spags, and all-inclusive food and wine tastings throughout the venue.  Over the course of the evening, you’ll have the opportunity to dine with celebrity chefs and culinary personalities from across the state

THE MAIN EVENT - The Main Event invites you to experience an epicurean and adventure playground where you can taste, sip, and indulge. The historic Santa Margarita Ranch hosts this two day extravaganza on September 26 and 27 showcases celebrity and master chefs, Sunset experts, brew masters, as well as local fishermen and artisanal food producers from throughout California.

THERE ARE ALSO ADVENTURE TOURS AND SPECIAL EVENTS & DINNERS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. GO TO WWW.SAVORCENTRALCOAST.COM FOR MORE INFO.

WWW.ANCIENTPEAKS.COM
SAVORCENTRALCOAST.COM


LARRY VAN AALST – HOST OF THE SONOMA WINE REPORT TALKS ABOUT THE SEASONS WINE TRENDS

LARRY HOSTS A WEEKLY PROGRAM ON CRN AND ALSO IS AN EXPERT ON WINE WHO IS SOUGHT AFTER FOR EVENTS, TASTES AND MAJOR SOMMELIER EVENTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA. HE COMMENTS ON THE INDUSTRY AND HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT WINE.

09/05 TASTE OF SONOMA, MACMURRAY ESTATE VINEYARDS, KATE MACMURRAY, MACMURRAY ESTATE VINEYARDS, GINA GALLO, GALLO FAMILY VINEYARDS, RACHEL VOORHEES, CHEF MATT LOWE, KENDALL JACKSON, KARISSA KRUSE, SONOMA COUNTY WINEGRAPE COMMISSION

LARRY AND NICOLE ARE BROADCASTING LIVE FROM TASTE OF SONOMA AT THE BEAUTIFUL MACMURRAY ESTATE VINEYARDS, HEALDSBURG

Immerse yourself in the food and wine culture of Sonoma County at Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Estate Vineyards. Kate MacMurray invites you to enjoy an afternoon of strolling through the historic MacMurray Estate Vineyards property while sipping and savoring the very best of Sonoma County’s rich wines and delectable cuisine. With more than 200 wineries pouring thousands of wines, and over 60 local chefs whipping up divine pairings, Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Estate Vineyards delivers a once-in-a-lifetime experience for oenophiles and foodies alike. Informative and entertaining wine seminars, lively cooking demonstrations and so much more make for an enchanting afternoon enjoying the best of Sonoma County living. Named one of the “10 Best Wine and Food Events in the United States” by Celebrated Living magazine, Taste of Sonoma is a coveted ticket — Get yours before they sell out!

SONOMAWINECOUNTRYWEEKEND.COM


KATE MACMURRAY - MACMURRAY ESTATE VINEYARDS

RUSSIAN RIVER HERITAGE
MacMurray Estate Vineyards is deeply rooted in Sonoma County. Our namesake vineyard, MacMurray Ranch, has been a farmstead since the 1850s, farmed by the Porter family until actor Fred MacMurray bought the ranch in 1941. Fred embraced the rancher’s lifestyle, raising prize-winning cattle and farming crops here for decades, while his children rode horses through the hills. Fred’s daughter—the actress, screenwriter and activist Kate MacMurray—retains an indelible tie to the estate, helping us share the heritage of our namesake vineyard, historic property and celebrated wine.

CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIR & ESTATE WINEGROWING
Transformed into a world-class vineyard in 1996, MacMurray Ranch quickly became one of the Russian River Valley’s most acclaimed Pinot Noir vineyards.  Today, MacMurray Estate Vineyards has grown to encompass estate vineyards throughout the Russian River Valley and the Central Coast, but we continue to honor our roots and the history of the MacMurray Ranch. The original buildings have been faithfully restored, and the 1,500-acre property is home to old-growth oaks, Redwood trees and indigenous wildlife. Winemaker Boyd Morrison and his team craft our collection of Pinot Noir wines, beginning with our home vineyard and extending to several estate vineyard sites throughout the Russian River Valley and the Central Coast.

WWW.MACMURRAYESTATEVINEYARDS.COM


GINA GALLO - SONOMA, GALLO FAMILY VINEYARDS

OUR FAMILY
Since brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo began to turn their dream into reality over 80 years ago, the roots of the Gallo family tree have extended deep into the Winery. Today their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren work in the Winery, carrying on the family tradition and values – a strong work ethic, a drive for perfection and a focus on quality.

The Gallo family still believes family ownership is the most effective way for the Winery to continue as a world leader in the wine industry.

Today, E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world's largest family-owned winery and the largest exporter of California wine.

PASSION FOR QUALITY
Since its inception, the hallmark of E. & J. Gallo Winery’s founders has been their unwavering commitment to quality. By taking the utmost care in each and every step of the grape growing and winemaking process, E. & J. Gallo Winery has consistently delivered outstanding wines for every occasion and price. The Winery continues to be at the forefront of the winemaking industry by researching and determining the very best regions to grow grapes, using the most effective techniques for grape growing, and lastly, employing the best ways to craft world-class wines.

BIO
Gina Gallo followed the footsteps of her grandfather Julio Gallo to find her calling as winemaker for Gallo Family Vineyards Sonoma Reserve. Today she creates award-winning wines from grapes grown by her brother Matt Gallo.

For Gina, a career in winemaking was inevitable. During high school she worked summers at E. & J. Gallo Winery, and after college she joined the company full time in the sales department.
She was drawn to the creative process of making wine, and years later she began studying at the acclaimed Viticulture and Enology program at the University of California, Davis. At the Winery, she apprenticed under 30-year veteran Marcello Monticelli.

Gina is immediate past president of the International Wine & Spirit competition.

GALLO.COM


RACHEL VOORHEES OF RODNEY STRONG – TALKING ABOUT THE SOMMELIER PROGRAM

Our story begins more than 50 years ago, when a celebrated American dancer named Rod Strong settled in Sonoma County to pursue a second lifelong creative passion: winemaking. Rodney Strong Vineyards was the 13th winery bonded in the newly discovered Sonoma County wine industry. A trio of winemaking paths crossed when Rick Sayre joined the team as Winemaker in 1979, and again when the Klein Family, 4th generation California farmers, purchased the winery in 1989 and initiated a renewed commitment of modern artisan winemaking. Through the years, Rodney Strong Vineyards has earned the reputation for critically acclaimed Single Vineyard and Reserve wines, stand out Estate releases and best-in-class Sonoma County varietal wines.

BIO
Rachel Voorhees is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, where she graduated at the top of her class. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area by Old World wine collectors, Rachel found a passion for wine and food early in life and credits her father for her palate and her mother for her culinary skills. Rachel studied at the International Culinary Center in 2012 where she continued to hone her wine pairing skills and wine knowledge. She was the food & wine writer for BevMo! and Wine.com before coming to Rodney Strong in December 2013. Rachel’s focus is to educate people about wine, Sonoma County and Rodney Strong Vineyards. She travels throughout the country entertaining key members of the trade, conducting classes and seminars and sharing the wonders of wine and food.

After receiving her B.A. in Communications and Psychology from Vanderbilt University, she continued her education at Notre Dame de Namur where she received her Masters of Education. She is currently studying for her Certified Wine Educator and Advanced Sommelier credentials. In her free time, Rachel loves spending time with her two children, creating unique food and wine pairings and gardening.

WWW.RODNEYSTRONG.COM


CHEF MATT LOWE FROM KENDALL JACKSON CULINARY TEAM TALK ABOUT PAIRING 

A FAMILY LEGACY
Being a family-owned winery absolutely affects our winemaking. It affords us the luxury to take the long view. We can take risks and grow our grapes in mountain and hillside vineyards- even though it is more difficult for both the farmer and the vine. But grapes grown on mountains have more character and more flavor—and that’s why we grow them there.

As a family-run business, we can put the long-term interests of future generations above short-term financial gains. Our success will be measured by generations of family, rather than by numbers on quarterly reports. We can't just be thinking about today, or tomorrow, or this quarter, or this year. We have to take the long view—100, 200 years—and think of future generations and the environment in which they'll live.

There are some special places where you just want to be, to live. And among those places are the coastal maritime, cool hills and mountains of the California coast. I’m at peace and spiritually satisfied when I'm in the mountains and hills and benches of California—the very places where the best grapes thrive. The land gives us what we need. It gives us our shelter, our food, our clean air—all of the things we need, except for one: family.

Taste is everything here at Kendall-Jackson. And we don't just mean the wines. The Kendall-Jackson Wine Center is a culinary destination for foodies and wine lovers from all over the country, and the creative force behind the Wine Center is our team of culinary adventurers: our chefs.

BIO
Matt has been a member of Kendall-Jackson’s culinary team for many years.  A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America Matthew has worked in the kitchen, gardens and cellars of Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates for nearly a decade. He brings to the table a wide variety of cooking experience from restaurants, healthcare, catering and corporate dining. Matthew specializes in vegetable dishes and the Kendall-Jackson culinary gardens offer an endless palette of seasonal produce and herbs to draw from.

WWW.KJ.COM


KARISSA KRUSE – PRESIDENT, SONOMA COUNTY WINEGRAPE COMMISSION - TALKING ABOUT SONOMA AND SUSTAINABILITY

The Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, also known as Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006 as a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. SCW has oversight by California Department of Food and Agriculture which supports producer regions.
With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers around the world.

In January 2014, SCW committed to becoming the nation’s first 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.

BIO
Karissa Kruse is President of the Sonoma County Winegrowers, a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. Karissa joined Sonoma County Winegrowers as Director of Marketing in September 2012 and was named President for the organization on May 1, 2013. Karissa earned a BS in Economics and an MBA in Marketing from Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania. She has over 17 years of experience in various aspects of marketing, brand management, strategic planning and business development. Karissa has worked for companies such as General Mills, Universal Studios, Mattel and Dairy Management, where Karissa worked for seven years on behalf of dairy farmers nationally. She is a partner in a small winery, Argot Wines, and the owner of a 25 acre parcel in Bennett Valley, with five acres planted to grapes. Karissa is on the Advisory Committee for Wharton’s Initiative on Environmental Leadership and on the boards of the Sonoma County Tourism, Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation, Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, Santa Rosa Junior College Shone Farm Foundation, Ag Trust Committee and Viticulture Advisory Committee and a member of Leadership Santa Rosa Class 29.  Kruse was selected as a NBBJ Women in Business 2014 Honoree and 40 under Forty Award recipient in 2012.    

08/31 WES HAGEN, CLOS PEPE, J. WILKES, ROBIN KELLEY O'CONNOR

WES HAGEN - THE NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR J. WILKES

ABOUT J. WILKES:
Jeff was committed to promoting the Santa Maria Valley; a place he considered home and cared about deeply. By offering a Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc under the J. Wilkes imprimatur of quality, we hope to introduce a new generation of wine drinkers to wines of typicity from a venerated appellation.

We hope these wines serve not only as ambassadors of an iconic growing region, but also as an introduction to three varietals that merit much pursuit and discovery.

The J. Wilkes brand was established in 2001 by Jefferson Wilkes, a widely respected wine industry veteran who loved the community of Santa Maria and sailing the Pacific Coast.  Since Jeff’s passing, the J. Wilkes brand has carried forth with a simple mission: to deliver wines of varietal character, at affordable prices, that highlight the virtues of the Santa Maria Valley appellation.

WWW.JWILKES.COM


ROBIN KELLEY O'CONNOR - WINE EDUCATOR, INTERNATIONAL WINE JUDGE, WINE WRITER, AND SOMMELIER

A leading wine educator, international wine judge, wine writer, and sommelier, Robin Kelley O’Connor joined Italian Wine Merchants (IWM), and its dynamic team where he has been adding his thirty years of experience, authority and passion to seminars, dinner events, sales, offerings and wine education. IWM is the leading purveyor of fine Italian wines in the country, as well as a specialist in providing great, rare and collectable wines of Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, California and Rioja In his role at IWM, he has the occasion to offer an unparalleled spectrum of wine and collector services such as cellar management, IWM’s proprietary online wine cellar tracking tool, wine appraisal and consignment assistance--and more.

He was Head of Wine & Lead Specialist, Americas, for Christie’s Auction House. In his role at Christie’s, Robin was responsible for wine auctions and private sales of fine and rare wines for the Americas, and had the role as the department's lead business-getter in securing consignments for sale.  Mr. O’Connor is a Christie’s trained charity auctioneer. Prior to Christie’s, he was Director of Sales and Education for Manhattan wine and spirits retailer Sherry-Lehmann, winner of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 2010 Wine Retailer of the Year Award.  Preceding Sherry-Lehmann, he was Trade Liaison and director of trade and consumer education in the Americas for the Bordeaux Wine Bureau (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) for 20 years. As a Bordeaux International Educator he remains very active in teaching Bordeaux.

A native of Maryland, Mr. O’Connor began studying wine while still a student at the University of Maryland. He started his wine career in London as sommelier at Le Chateaubriand Restaurant in the prestigious May Fair Hotel and went on to earn a diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (DWS). He holds Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Certified Wine Educator (CWE) certifications from the Society of Wine Educators and passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Certified Sommelier exam. As a popular wine educator and spokesperson, he has conducted over 2500 seminars around the world on a variety of topics within the world of wine. He has written for the Trenton Times, Santé Magazine, Wine & Spirit Magazine and was senior editor for Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Complete Wine Course 25th Anniversary Edition. For over a year during 2008-2009 he traveled around the world with Kevin visiting over 20 Countries, 80 wine regions, and 500 appellations and tasted more than 7,000 wines.

O'Connor served as president of the Society of Wine Educators from 2003-2007, is on the board of directors of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food, and has been a regular panelist at the Food and Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen for 20 years. He has put his palate to test as an International Wine Judge in Australia, Chile, France, and Italy. For many years he judged at the prestigious Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition; San Francisco International Wine Competition and The Dallas Morning News Competition among countless others. For the past 16 years he has been a frequent lecturer on Crystal Cruises sharing his passion about wine and food. For the last four years he has been coaching DeVinimus-Columbia University Law School Wine Club competition team for international contests. In addition he is a regular lecturer at the International Culinary Center (formerly known as the French Culinary Institute). Among his many professional honors, Mr. O’Connor bears the distinction of having been inducted into the wine world’s most prestigious institutions, including the Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc- des Graves et de Sauternes-Barsac, the Jurade de Saint-Emilion and Les Hospitaliers de Pomerol.

WWW.RKOVINE.COM   
WWW.ITALIANWINEMERCHANTS.COM

08/24 GARY PISONI, PISONI VINEYARDS, RICHARD PHOENIX, CULTIVAR WINES. LA FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL

GARY PISONI – PISONI VINEYARDS                                                  

A special place, Pisoni Vineyards expresses the land and climate of the Santa Lucia Highlands and the spirit of the Pisoni Family. The site is a source of exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.

First planted by Gary Pisoni in 1982, Pisoni Vineyards consists of small vineyard blocks arranged on and around the ridges of the mountainous landscape. Ranging in size from one-half to seventeen acres, the vineyard blocks perch at an altitude of 1,300 feet in the granite-laced mountains of the coastal Santa Lucia Range.

Inspired by the Burgundy tradition of having several wineries source fruit from the same vineyard, Gary Pisoni has formed relationships with some of the most prestigious Pinot Noir producers in California. With agreements based on handshake alone, these wineries are guaranteed specific rows and blocks each year. They purchase grapes at a per-acre price rather than a per-ton price, which maintains the focus on quality and not yields.

In addition to supplying fruit to artisan producers of vineyard-designated wines, the Pisoni Family retains a portion of the vineyard for the production of Pisoni Estate wine.

THE PRACTICE
Vineyard management is meticulous. Under Mark Pisoni's leadership, a long-time permanent crew of 18 skilled individuals perform all the work by hand. Every decision implements sustainable farming practices and long-term considerations. This commitment, combined with the rocky soils and cold Monterey Bay weather, produce serious and compelling wines.

THE FAMILY
In 1952 Jane and Eddie Pisoni began farming vegetables in the fertile Salinas Valley. A celery-crop profit in 1979 provided the down payment for the Santa Lucia Highlands property that became Pisoni Vineyards. Their love for the land provided the place where their son Gary could realize his dreams. Gary developed a love of wine while attending college. He started collecting fine French and German wines, and he made his first wine in his garage in 1978 at the age of twenty-five. In 1982, Gary broke ground and planted the first vines at Pisoni Vineyards. He was up against many obstacles, including not having a water source at the time.

Mark Pisoni, the vineyard manager, completed a B.S. in Agricultural Economics at the University of California, Davis, and an M.S. in Farm Business Management at Cornell University. He oversees the meticulous care of both Pisoni Vineyards and Pisoni Farms.  Jeff Pisoni is the winemaker. He earned a B.S. in Enology at California State University, Fresno, and got hands-on experience at premium wineries before becoming the Pisoni Estate and Lucia winemaker in 2002.

THE WINE
The Pisoni Family produces one wine each year under the label bearing its name: Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir. Although actual quantities vary with fruit yields, typical production is a mere 500 cases annually. Often noted for their deep color and intensity, wines from Pisoni Vineyards offer complex flavors and layers of undulating texture. The rocky mountain soil and the long, cool growing season provide the fundamental character of the wine, and the tannin and acid structure contribute to the age-worthiness.

LUCIA
Lucia vineyard designated Santa Lucia Highlands AVA wines. Lucia is the sister label of the Pisoni Estate wines. Whereas Pisoni Estate is committed to a single expression of the Pisoni Vineyards, Lucia represents the collection of vineyards that the Pisoni Family farms: Pisoni Vineyards, Soberanes Vineyard and Garys' Vineyard (the latter two farmed in partnership with Gary Franscioni).

The wines of Lucia are vineyard designated Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from these vineyards and eponymous Santa Lucia Highlands AVA cuvées with varying percentages of each vineyard blended together. Lucia wines are made alongside the Pisoni Estate wines using the same exacting standards for quality. They are sold via mailing list and high-end restaurants and retailers. If you are on the mailing list for Pisoni Estate wines, you will automatically have the opportunity to purchase the Lucia offerings.

WWW.PISONIVINEYARDS.COM


RICHARD PHOENIX FROM CULTIVAR WINES GIVES US ALL THE DETAILS ON THIS YEARS LA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

"A variety (or Cultivar) is a set of cultivated plants with clearly distinguishable and distinctive characteristics."

Distinguished Vineyards, Quality Wines with Distinctive Characteristics.  Cultivar Appellation Wines showcase the true characteristics of Napa Valley’s distinct microclimates and terrains by choosing from only the best vineyards throughout the Napa Valley.  Take a tour of the Cultivar Appellations with our small batch, appellation specific wines that highlight the distinctive characteristics of the terroir in our Cultivar Wine Club.

Napa Valley as an Appellation of California
One Cultivar, many appellations.  Napa Valley wines are a blend of several appellations within Napa of which we choose certain characteristics to add more complexity to the flavor and texture of a wine.  The Napa Valley wines are bright, elegant, and expressive and show the pretty fruit while maintaining that balance with structure and elegance.

The Napa Valley is defined by 2 mountain ranges and a proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the Napa Valley enjoys a temperate climate with a long growing season of sunny, warm days followed by cool evenings. Within the Napa Valley AVA, there are 14 other AVAs with distinct micro-climates and terrains formed by a varied topographical configuration of hills, exposures and elevations. The Napa Valley AVA is also part of the North Coast AVA.

Napa Valley's 16 Sub-Appellations
One Cultivar, one appellation.  Cultivar’s appellation wines of the Napa Valley are selected for specific Cultivar characteristics of the specific appellations.

Within the Napa Valley appellation exist 16 appellations, including: Atlas Peak, Calistoga, Chiles Valley District, Coombsville, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Los Carneros, Mt. Veeder, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Spring Mountain District, Stags Leap District, Yountville and Wild Horse Valley.  From valley floor to hillsides to the mountains they are all are uniquely different because of the climate and the soil types.

The different conditions of Napa’s 16 appellations produce very different wines.  We pick vineyards that are good representations of the appellation it is from and then produce the wines in similar conditions (similar oak, aging and wine making).  There wines are always produced in limited quantities (100 to 300 cases) to express the true characteristics of the appellation.  Try a bottle of each of our sub-appellations for you next at home tour of the Napa Valley.

Vineyard Designated Cultivar Wine
One Cultivar, one appellation, one vineyard.  Cultivar’s Vineyard Designation wines are from specific vineyard within an appellation within Napa.  These Cultivar Vineyards express very specific characteristics.  These vineyard designated wines are produced exclusively from a single vineyard with that vineyard's name appearing on the wine label.

WWW.CULTIVARWINE.COM
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