Adelante
Adelante, which translates as moving forward, is sourced from a single, sustainably farmed vineyard originally planted in 1946 in La Consulta, one of the highest elevation regions within Mendoza, resulting in a wine with brighter acidity, spicy fruit, and better balance. Founder/Winemaker Ray Kaufman, well known for his work pioneering the export of significant CA wines to Europe and Asia back in the 1980’s has also worked alongside great winemakers in various cellars as well. He helped Patrick Campbell craft 23 vintages of Laurel Glen Cab up on Sonoma Mountain.
Au Bon Climat
Jim Clendenen, the Mind Behind Au Bon Climat, is one of the founding winemakers in Santa Barbara County. He has been making benchmark wines under his own label since 1982. Although Jim owns two of his own vineyards, Le Bon Climat at the Southern end of the Santa Maria Valley, and Rancho La Cuna in Los Alamos, he also sources grapes from many of the most historically significant vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County and beyond. Invited to occupy a winery facility built for him in 1988 by the Miller family situated in their expansive Bien Nacido Vineyard, Jim has planted choice sites in this vineyard to various varietals that he manages much in the same manner as his own estate vineyards. At Au Bon Climat, Jim specializes in crafting well-balanced artisan quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Blue Quail
Blue Quail—Estate Grown & Family Owned since 1970. Made with Certified Organic Grapes.
Guinness McFadden has been growing grapes organically for over 40 years. He planted his vineyard on a beautiful piece of land that straddles the Russian River, neighbors the Mendocino National Forest and sits up at 1,200 feet in altitude, with temperatures regularly dropping 40-45 degrees each night. In this climate, grapes develop a fullness of flavor that is balanced by a crisp acidity.
Clendenen Family Vineyards
Jim Clendenen created the Clendenen Family Vineyards label in 2000 as a vehicle to bring many of his most artisan and experimental wines to market. All are produced in very small quantities, many of these wines are crafted from unique varietals grown primarily on his sustainably farmed Le Bon Climat and Rancho La Cuna Vineyards. The project has expanded to include special plantings at Bien Nacido Vineyard as well. While two of the jewels from this project are Jim’s best expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this “varietal playground” also includes benchmark examples of Nebbiolo, Tocai Friulano, Viognier, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, and an amazing Syrah/Viognier blend. As always, the hallmark of Jim’s wines is balance.
Fowles Wine
The Fowles Wine vineyards and winery are located in the bucolic, windswept, super cool-climate Strathbogie Ranges of Central Victoria, Australia at an elevation of over 1600 feet. The soil there is nutrient poor and extremely well drained, comprised of a granitic base rock mixed with sand, quartz, and ironstone gravel, making it exceptional for viticulture, but little else. Fanatically committed to ethical and sustainable viticultural practices, as well as hunting and living off the 800 acre expanse they occupy in this remote region, Matt Fowles launched the Farm to Table range of wines to help promote this deep connection to the land. All of the wines are sourced from Fowles estate vineyards in the Strathbogie Ranges and express clean and vibrant varietal character. The “minimal intervention” approach to winemaking they employ, coupled with the cool climate terroir of the Strathbogie Ranges, result in wines that are subtle and refreshing on the palate. Fowles Wine is the only winery in the Strathbogie Ranges currently awarded the distinction of a five star rating from James Halliday.
Lindquist Family Wines
An original Rhone Ranger, Bob Lindquist has been making wine on the Central Coast since 1982. His focus has been on Rhone varietals and Chardonnay from some of the best cool climate vineyards in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. His wines are known for elegance, balance and longevity in the cellar, with a strong nod to the traditional winemaking techniques of the Old World.
Long Shadows
Long Shadows is a “dream project” conceived by Allen Shoup, former CEO of Chateau Ste Michelle in Washington State. Allen’s vision was to showcase the world class quality of the fledgling Columbia Valley wine region. To achieve this lofty goal, he set out to partner with some of the most prominent winemakers in the world, each of whom specialized in a varietal or blend of varietals that grow exceptionally well in the Columbia Valley. Each winemaker would establish their own brand, comprised of just one wine, made “without compromise”, and sourced from some of the best vineyards in the region. The results have spawned a love affair with critics and consumers alike from their inception. Poet’s Leap Riesling (Armin Diel), Feather Cabernet Sauvignon (Randy Dunn), Pedestal Merlot (Michel Rolland), Sequel Syrah (John Duval), Pirouette Bordeaux-style blend (Phillippe Melka & Agustin Huneeus Sr.), Saggi super-Tuscan-style Sangiovese blend (Ambrogio & Giovanni Folonari), and Chester-Kidder Cabernet/Syrah blend (Gilles Nicault & Allen Shoup) make up the heart of the portfolio.
Truchard Vineyards
The Truchard family are visionaries, who helped to establish “Los Carneros” as the first true cool-climate AVA in Napa Valley. They planted their first 20 acres in 1973, 10 years before the AVA was established, when most thought the region too cool to ripen quality grapes. Through ingenuity and innovation – introducing clay reservoirs to trap rainwater and the concept of drip-irrigation to improve both conservation and viticulture– they have long established a reputation for producing exceptional, world-class grapes which has inspired them to gradually expand to 400 acres (280 under vine). Truchard Vineyards remains family owned, with Gen-2 now running the day-to-day operations. All grapes are either organically or sustainably farmed, and all wines made under the Truchard label are sourced from the own estate vineyard. Their own “Truchard Vineyards” brand is an artisan production of under 20,000 cases, they sell 80% of their vineyard’s fruit to some of the best wineries in the state.