We collected grapes from several microclimates in Napa, building depth from the myriad of flavors and aromas. We used our Calistoga fruit to form a ripe foundation, accented by lime peel and lemon meringue. Pope Valley, with its hotter days and colder nights, gave pink grapefruit and citrus flavors. In this vintage, we included a touch of fruit from Mendocino, which rounded out the blend with floral and melon notes. By combining these regions, we captured the breadth and complexity of this varietal.
The grapes for this wine were harvested and placed whole cluster into the press. This gentle technique, which prevents skin bruising and breakage, preserved the intensity and mouthfeel of the fruit. To further entice the varietal’s delicate flavors forward, we placed a majority of the fruit in stainless steel for a long, cool fermentation. A small amount was barrel fermented in seasoned oak with regular batonnage. This warmer fermentation added dimensions of aromatics and flavors.
Food pairing
Pair this inviting Sauvignon Blanc with a variety of seafood, such as seared scallops or roasted white fish.
Producer
Sterling Vineyards was born in the 1960s, a time when creativity and entrepreneurial spirit abounded, especially in California. In 1964, Peter Newton, once a paper broker in England, purchased 70 acres of land in Calistoga and became a Napa Valley winemaker. He planted grapes others did not, bottled varietals others did not, and built a dramatic winery with an aerial tramway. His innovations put Sterling Vineyards into the public eye and helped establish the Napa Valley as a premier travel destination. When Newton began planting his estate, Cabernet Sauvignon was the preferred variety. He planted the esteemed Cabernet, but his decision to also plant Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot was a bold move. His Merlot vines were the first significant planting of that variety in the Napa Valley. Newton saw potential in the soft, velvety Merlot fruit, and in 1969 he took a chance by releasing California’s first vintage-dated Merlot. This decision flew in the face of traditional standards, which held that Merlot was merely a blending grape, and forever changed the perception of red wine. People started to enter a restaurant and ask for a glass of Merlot!
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