Winemaker Notes

There is a tender spot in my heart for pink wine. (This is spoken by a man who is very secure with respect to his gender issues.) As a genus, pink wine is seldom taken seriously and yet vin en rose is capable of offering among the most blissful moments that a mere alcoholic beverage can provide. Producing a great pink wine is generally a thankless task, it must be said. When it works, people are pleased but generally remain mute. When it is less than brilliant, punters rosaphobic prejudices are simply confirmed. Somewhere in the process of making pink wine, you are faced with the forking path of maximizing fruitiness and the optimization of complexity. When in doubt, go for everything, perhaps best typifies our attitude here at Bonny Doon. The wine was left on its lees, which were periodically stirred; this has added complexity and a wonderful creaminess of texture. At the same time, the wine has retained its fructive supremacy - wild strawberry and shockingly vivid guava are the dominant tones, complemented by more discreet suggestions of peach and (what else) pink grapefruit. Our pink is a highly nuanced proprietary blend and strongly Syrah dominant - I can tell you that much under the Freedom of Vinformation Act - and as such, it is quite spicy, pleasingly peppery and saturated with the sap of spring. Varietal Composition: Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault, Pinot Meunier, Charbono, Dolcetto
Bonny Doon

Bonny Doon

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Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.

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Responsible for the vast majority of American wine production, if California were a country, it would be the world’s fourth largest wine-producing nation. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of red wine styles, and unlike tradition-bound Europe, experimentation is more than welcome here. California wineries range from tiny, family-owned boutiques to massive corporations, and price and production are equally varied. Plenty of inexpensive bulk wine is made in the Central Valley area, while Napa Valley is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious and expensive “cult” wines.

Each American Viticultural Area (AVA) and sub-AVA of has its own distinct personality, allowing California to produce red wine of every fashion: from bone dry to unctuously sweet, still to sparkling, light and fresh to rich and full-bodied. In the Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate vineyard acreage. Sonoma County is best known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé and Zinfandel. The Central Coast has carved out a niche with Rhône Blends based on Grenache and Syrah, while Mendocino has found success with cool climate varieties such as Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. With all the diversity that California wine has to offer, any wine lover will find something to get excited about here.

VIN11629_2000 Item# 28696