Club Corner
March 2025 Rose Club: Women Wine Makers
As we celebrate Women’s History month every March, we decided to seek out rosés from female winemakers. Cline Family Cellars was founded by Fred Cline in 1989. He learned winemaking from his grandfather and is passing on his knowledge to the next generation, many of whom are women. In fact, they have a whole page on their website dedicated to all of the women in their business! They hold dear the tradition of passing on their values: commitment to quality, focus on sustainability, and a strong sense of unity to the future. It's in these principles that they find our inspiration. Their goal is simple: to create wines that not only taste exceptional but also become a part of your family's lasting memories. Assistant winemaker Katie Hoggins brings a wealth of expertise and passion to Cline Family Cellars, with a phenomenal palate and global winemaking experience that spans both small boutique wineries and large-scale operations, including Spy Valley in her home country of New Zealand, Cave de Ribeauville in the Alsace region, Chehelam Wines in Oregon, and Clos du Bois in Napa. Her journey in winemaking has taken her across diverse regions and styles, enriching her understanding of what it takes to craft exceptional wines. Katie's enthusiasm for pushing boundaries and creating wines that excite the palate is matched by her direct, efficient, and innovative approach to the craft. Her vision perfectly aligns with the forward-thinking spirit of the next generation at Cline Family Cellars, where she plays an integral role in shaping the winery's future while honoring its legacy. Cambria Wines was one of the first wineries in the Santa Maria Valley, and they’ve got some serious cred behind them. In fact, the part of their estate that was originally called the Tepusquet Vineyard was one of the first vineyards planted in the region, back in 1971. More than just a beautiful place for growing grapes, it brought attention to the Santa Maria Valley and inspired others to realize the potential of this unique winegrowing region. In 1986, founders Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson bought that vineyard and established Cambria. After 34 years of cultivating grapes and people, there’s a lotta love and pride on this estate. Cambria is rooted in female leadership. For over 30 years, we've been champions of women, the environment, and how the world of wine can work together to create a more equitable and sustainable future. Winemaker Jill Russell knew from a young age that she wanted to be a winemaker. After getting a degree at Cal Poly SLO, which included a semester learning winemaking in Adelaide, Australia, she came back to the Central Coast and worked as assistant winemaker at Steven Ross for 5 years. She then went to the Menetou-Salon region to work a harvest in the Loire Valley and traveled throughout France expand her knowledge and her palate. Back stateside, she joined Paul Lato at his boutique Santa Barbara winery, diving into Sta. Rita Hills, our beautiful Santa Maria Valley, and stoking her enduring love of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Knowing she was right where she wanted to be, the chance to join Cambria as Winemaker was a no-brainer and, she still maintains, the opportunity of a lifetime. She loves working with the vineyards throughout our estate and getting to know them on a block-by-block basis, digging into the clones, soils, and microclimates. Her passion and unique energy are in every bottle. Jill, her husband and live-in chef Torrey, and cheerful dog Sansa, are proud residents of Los Alamos – a tiny country town just 15 minutes South of the winery. Think Pink! Carrie Upson- General Manager & Wine Buyer 2023 Cline Mourvedre Rosé Location: Contra Costa County, California About the Vineyards: Three vineyards planted in the deep, sandy soil of Contra Costa supply us with this Mourvèdre. These vineyards benefit from the evening cooling effects of the San Joaqin and Sacramento Rivers which allows the grapes to hold their bright acid character. The combination of extremely well drained sandy soil and low average rainfall create a tonnage-limiting environment that produces grapes with great intensity. They are farmed specifically for making Rosé in the traditional French style, picking whole clusters from fully mature Mourvèdre vines and pressed immediately to create a wine with amazing vibrancy. About the Winemaking: Picked with vibrant acidity at low sugars, the grapes are hand harvested and brought to the winery where it is immediately pressed with only the first portion of free-run juice used to impart only the lightest color yet retain all the fresh fruit flavors. It is settled for 48 hours before being racked and inoculated for a cool fermentation at about 55F. Once fermentation is complete it is racked before being blended and bottled fresh before Spring the following year. Tasting Notes: In the wonderful tradition of rosés found in Portugal, Spain, Italy and France, this Mourvèdre Rosé is perfect on its own, well-chilled. It shows pleasant aromas of fresh strawberry, watermelon and floral notes. On the palate, the light body, packed with fresh fruit flavors and a notable crisp finish, with tart strawberry, juicy watermelon, tangy orange and lemon, hint of cardamom and vanilla. Winemaker: Katie Hoggins Price: $15.99 btl/ $172.69 Suggested Food Pairing: Hamachi kama, Whole roasted barramundi, Ratatouille, BBQ chicken wings. 2023 Cambria Rosé of Pinot Noir Location: Santa Maria, California About the Vineyard: Julia’s Vineyard, named for Julia Jackson in 1986, consists of ancient soils with fossilized seashells, shale, limestone and sand, with fog swept vines that have endured since the 1970s. Julia’s Vineyard Rosé of Pinot Noir is crafted with intention and farmed from specific blocks on the estate. The Pinot Noir grapes are selected just for this wine to be lively, fresh, and expressive. About The Winemaking: Whole cluster pressed. Fermented exclusively in stainless steel. No malolactic fermentation. 100% clone 115 Pinot Noir. Tasting Notes: This Rosé of Pinot Noir has pronounced aromas of white peach, strawberry, and citrus. The palate is medium bodied, with balancing and refreshing acidity, leading to a finish that expresses watermelon and grapefruit. A summer favorite, perfect for brunch or a picnic. Winemaker: Jill Russell Price: $23.99 btl/$205.09 case Suggested Food Pairing: Beet and feta salad, shrimp ceviche, French brie and strawberry jam, bruschetta.
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November 2024 Rosé Club
Cold Weather Rosés Drinking rosé wine in the winter can be a delightful experience! While rosé is often associated with warm summer days, its versatility makes it an excellent choice year-round. This time of year, we look for fuller-bodied rosés with deeper flavors. Rosé pairs surprisingly well with hearty winter dishes. Try it with roasted chicken, creamy pastas, or vegetable-based soups. It also complements charcuterie boards with cured meats and aged cheeses. We like to serve it slightly warmer than usual (but still chilled). Aim for about 50–55°F (10–13°C), which allows the flavors to shine without feeling out of season. This month we’re featuring two natural rosés from some of California’s natural wine pioneers who source grapes from several California AVAs and vineyards. Adam Sabelli-Frisch of sabelli-Frisch makes wine from low-impact vineyards, with a focus on rare, forgotten, under-appreciated, or historic grape varieties. In his own words: “I try to make them in an elegant Old World way here in the New World. I tend to go for more restrained oak usage for best expression, but not at all opposed to oak if the wine demands it (and some do). My wines are normally bone dry, fermented naturally, contain no added chemicals, low in sulfites. I try not to filter and I try not to fine. I also don’t rush them to market, I prefer to let them age in the winery for at least a year and half or more. I find it really helps them develop and refine, as well as prepare them for further aging.” You’ll notice his rosé is from 2021, but it still has all of the freshness and acidity a current vintage rosé would. Vinca Minor was founded in 2013 by Jason Edward Charles, who has spent the greater portion of the past two decades making the world his classroom. His post-collegiate years found Charles taking photographs of everything from street life in Mexico City to the gorgeous Spanish countryside. After Europe, Charles moved to New York and waited tables in the Manhattan restaurant industry, where he was hostage to the good fortune of being surrounded by passionate wine experts. His interest ablaze, Charles landed a harvest internship and promptly moved to Northern California, where he worked the fields to learn every possible aspect of the winemaking craft. From there, Charles headed to France to further his studies at Château Haut Goujon in Lalande de Pomerol. After serving the soil, grape and sun in France, Charles returned to work at some of Napa’s most renowned wineries, formally establishing Vinca Minor in 2013. Charles's bold handling of the old-vine Mendocino Carignan grape helped make it an emerging star and placed him at the forefront of California's natural wine movement. Vinca Minor's philosophy is straightforward: they believe that exceptional wine originates from exceptional farming practices. This belief has led them to establish partnerships with historic vineyards and families across Northern California—families deeply rooted in the land, who have tended to these vines for generations. Think Pink, Carrie Upson Vinca Minor Rosé 2023 Region/Country of Origin: Mendocino, California About the Vineyard: Hawkeye Ranch was planted in the early 1900’s and sits at 722 feet elevation and is located in the upper reaches of the Russian River drainage in Mendocino County. The soil type is Pinole Gravelly Loam, which provides excellent drainage and promotes low vigor. This vineyard has warm daytime temperatures and cool evenings giving a large diurnal temperature shift often of 50 degrees; providing excellent fruit maturation while maintaining balance. Farmed organically and fish-friendly. About the Winemaking: Field blend of Zinfandel & Carignan. Grapes were hand harvested in late October at peak ripeness. Once in the winery, the juice was separated from the skins and fermented naturally in a stainless steel tank. Tasting Notes: Bright, lifted and textural. Notes of watermelon, citrus (like grapefruit and meyer lemon), as well as a salty minerality. A beautiful wine to drink now. Winemaker: Jason Edward Charles Price per bottle / Price per case: $24.99 btl/ $269.89 cs Suggested Food Pairing: Tacos al pastor, dark meat turkey, sausage stuffing, charcuterie boards. Sabelli-Frisch Eserra Rosé of Zinfandel 2021 Region/Country of Origin: Jahant AVA, Lodi, CA About the Wine: White Zinfandel has had a pretty bad reputation for decades amongst wine lovers. And rightly so. But this is not your grandparents mass-market, porch-pounding sweet and cloying White Zinfandel of the past - this is something completely different. I see a great future for dry White Zinfandel here in California again, aromatic in style, leaving the old shackles of sweet artificialness behind. Zinfandel really makes excellent white wines and it’s time we rediscover it. About the Vineyard: Steve Lauchland has been farming his predominantly Zinfandel vineyard since the 70’s. Most of his vines were planted in the 80’s, making them not quite historic of age, but certainly older vines. Naturally fermented and made with minimal intervention. Tasting Notes: A very dry rosé wine, slightly reductive gunflint notes, full of fruit vigor, acid that dances on your tongue, yet with all the complexities that Zinfandel can bring. Winemaker: Adam Sabelli-Frisch Price per bottle / Price per case: $16.99/ inquire Suggested Food Pairing: Egg bake with sausage, BBQ pork buns, chicken tikka masala and saag paneer, grilled branzino.
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