March 19th - This Date in Wine History

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800px-King_Charles_I_after_original_by_van_Dyck.jpg

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • During the reign of Charles I, 1667, it was reported that Rear-Admiral Utbert took  five or six Dutch and French prizes (ships) which were filled with wine, brandy and salt.

  • Philip (Filippo) Mazzei, Italian born physical and viticulturist died in 1816.  He brought plants, seeds, silkworms and farms from Lucca, Italy. Thomas Jefferson gave Mazzei land too start a vineyard.

  • Pennsylvania and New Jersey's Central Delaware Valley AVA was designated in 1984.

  • California's Yountville AVA was designated in 1999.

  • Today is the feast of St. Joseph who is honored with a table of meatless foods (as it is lent) and wine offered to the poor.  St.  Joseph is the patron Saint of the working man.

March 19th - This Date in Wine History

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David_Filippo_Mazzei.jpg

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history. 

  • Philip (Filippo) Mazzei, Italian born physical and viticulturist died in 1816.  He brought plants, seeds, silkworms, and farms from Lucca, Italy. Thomas Jefferson gave Mazzei land too start a vineyard.
  • Pennsylvania and New Jersey's Central Delaware Valley AVA was designated in 1984.
  • California's Yountville AVA was designated in 1999. 
  • Today is the feast of St. Joseph who is honored with a table of meatless foods (as it is lent) and wine offered to the poor.  St.  Joseph is the patron Saint of the working man.
  • Happy Ag Appreciation Week  Remember, without ag, there is no wine!

2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc - Wine of the Day

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2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc

2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc

$35

The fruit for the 2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Las Cerezas Vineyard in Napa Valley's Yountville viticultural area.  Aged 12 months in 80% new French Oak, this wine maintains a crisp acidic edge with a medium body. With fruit flavors of green apple and passion fruit, and a flowery peach nose, our Sauvignon Blanc is perfect for your afternoon picnic. Best served with grilled fish or white meats especially if prepared with a creamy sauce with spring vegetables.  

2013 Essere Franco Malbec - Wine of the Day

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2013 Essere Franco Malbec

 2013 Essere Franco Malbec

$95

The fruit for this delicious wine was sourced from the Las Cerezas Vineyard in the Yountville AVA of Napa Valley.  Aged 18 months in 80% new French Oak, this medium to full bodied wine has flavors of dark berry and chocolate, with a touch of black pepper. It carries a crisp acidity with ripe plum aromas on the nose. It pairs incredible with Italian foods, and has quickly become our favorite wine to make since we bottled our first stand alone Malbec in 2007.

Only 116 cases produced

Yountville - Wine Region of the Day

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Yountville

Yountville received its distinction as an AVA in 1999 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. The AVA is sitting on 8,000 acres, centered on the town Yountville, California. Volcanic soils on the eastern flank are similar to the neighboring Stags Leap District but also features centuries-old coastal deposits, and both sedimentary and alluvial soils exist to the west, interspersed with sandy and gravelly loam, as well as a little clay. No other area in all the Napa Valley has this particular geomorphic combination and pronounced soil differences. The climate of the region consists of cool marine air currents from San Pablo Bay to the south, allowing for cooler temperatures year round. These milder temperatures allow the grapes of the region plenty of time to develop unique flavor characteristics. The region currently produces Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

March 19th - This Date in Wine History

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Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Pennsylvania and New Jersey's Central Delaware Valley AVA was designated in 1984.
  • California's Yountville AVA was designated in 1999.
  • Today is the feast of St. Joseph who is honored with a table of meatless foods (as it is lent) and wine offered to the poor.  St.  Joseph is the patron Saint of the working man.

Napa Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Napa Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1981. Situated on 43,000 acres, Napa Valley is home to sub-appellations Los Carneros, Howell Mountain, Wild Horse Valley, Stags Leap District, Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak, Spring Mountain District, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Chiles Valley, Yountville, Diamond Mountain District, Coombsville, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, and Calistoga. The Napa Valley floor is flanked by the Mayacamas Mountain Range on the western and northern sides the Vaca Mountains on the eastern side. The floor of the main valley gradually rises from sea level at the southern end to 362 feet above sea level at the northern end in Calistoga at the foot of Mount Saint Helena. The Oakville and Rutherford AVAs lie within a geographical area known as the Rutherford Bench in the center of the valley floor. The soil at the southern end of the valley consists mainly of sediments deposited by earlier advances and retreats of San Pablo Bay while the soil at the northern end of the valley contains a large volume of volcanic lava and ash. Several microclimates exist within the area due to various weather and geographical influences in the different sub-appellations. The open southern end of the valley floor is cooler during the growing season due to the proximity of San Pablo Bay while the sheltered, closed northern end is often much warmer. The eastern side of the valley tends to be arid because winter storms tend to drop much more precipitation on the western mountains and hills. Napa Valley is known for its world-class production of Cabernet Sauvignon but also produces Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

2013 Stella Sauvignon Blanc - Wine of the Day

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 2013 Stella Sauvignon Blanc

$28

This voluptuous wine proudly presents itself with a tropical aromatic nose full of passion fruit and crisp green apple. The palate follows the nose offering pineapple-guava over a round mouthfeel with a unique acidity that only stainless steel fermentation and aging can provide. This un-oaked Sauvignon Blanc went through 50% Malolactic fermentation in order to help retain its distinct acid profile.

2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc - Wine of the Day

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2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc

$35

The fruit for the 2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Las Cerezas Vineyard in Napa Valley's Yountville viticultural area.  Aged 12 months in 80% new French Oak, this wine maintains a crisp acidic edge with a medium body. With fruit flavors of green apple and passion fruit, and a flowery peach nose, our Sauvignon Blanc is perfect for your afternoon picnic. Best served with grilled fish or white meats especially if prepared with a creamy sauce with spring vegetables.  2014

2013 Essere Franco Malbec - Wine of the Day

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2013 Essere Franco Malbec

$95

The fruit for this delicious wine was sourced from the Las Cerezas Vineyard in the Yountville AVA of Napa Valley.  Aged 18 months in 80% new French Oak, this medium to full bodied wine has flavors of dark berry and chocolate, with a touch of black pepper. It carries a crisp acidity with ripe plum aromas on the nose. It pairs incredible with Italian foods, and has quickly become our favorite wine to make since we bottled our first stand alone Malbec in 2007.