Carmenere is a French grape variety of Bordeaux origin, which is known for having a savory character that features a velvet texture, black fruit and and spicy notes. This lovely wine was almost lost to the world in the second half of the 19th century by a Phylloxera plague (insect pest) that destroyed all of the Carmenere grapevines […]
Meet Cabernet Sauvignon, also known as the King of Wines. It grows in both cool and warm climates, comes in four different styles and has the perfect flavor profile for food pairing or to enjoy on its own. The accidental breeding of a red Cabernet Franc grape plant and a white Sauvignon Blanc plant in […]
Wine tasting can be a little intimidating if you’ve never done it before—but it shouldn’t be! That’s why we’ve drafted up a quick primer on what to expect in the tasting room, as well as the general dos and don’ts to ensure you have the best wine tasting experience possible. Before Your Arrive Before you […]
The history of wine caves can be traced back several thousand years, when the Romans discovered the best way to store and age wine is in a cool, damp underground environment. They used the catacombs as both an underground cemetery and a wine cellar. However, it was not until the mid 1800s and the California […]
You might be surprised to learn that one of the most famous wines in the world, Bordeaux, is actually a blend. While most wines are named after the grape varietal used, there are a few that are named after the region in France where they originate (e.g., Champagne and Bordeaux). Bordeaux blends come in both […]
Introducing the Côte of Fair Play. Fair Play isn’t really a valley—it’s a Côte or Coteau (the hillside or the “foothillside”). Our Côte shares various similarities with the Côte-Rôtie appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) in France. Like the Côte-Rôtie, Fair Play features granitic and slate soils, steep slopes and extreme temperatures, making it ideal for growing Rhone […]
If you haven’t tried an en primeur tasting (also known as wine futures) at the winery yet, you’ve been missing out on a very unique and historical wine experience! En primeur tasting lets you try the wine while it is still aging in the barrel during its infancy. The practice of tasting and buying en […]
With our upcoming Bastille Day Celebration just around the corner, we’ve put together a little refresher on the history of the French holiday and why we should celebrate along with our European friends across the sea. Celebrated on July 14th, Bastille Day is also known as “La Fête Nationale,” or the National Holiday, in French. […]