Winemaker Notes
The Cannonball. It is the perfect symbol of freedom. Legs tucked beneath you, soaring through the air – that uninhibited spirit is the soul of Cannonball wines. The Cannonball icon is a symbol of your inner child. A time when life was carefree and all about having fun. Dive In and Share a Splash!
Founded in 2006 by a dynamic team of wine industry veterans who were determined to rock the wine world. The vision was to make the best California Cabernet under $20. Armed with a belief that wine should be fun, uninhibited and approachable, they set out to share a splash of Cannonball Cabernet in every glass.
By 2010, Cannonball Cabernet had established a solid reputation in the under $20 category and was receiving lots of love from consumers, restaurants, and retailers. They all wanted more, so the line was extended. The first varietal was Chardonnay, followed by Merlot, and then Sauvignon Blanc.
The beloved flavors of Cannonball are sourced from select regions throughout California. The diverse California micro-climates, topography and soils provide the perfect palette to create wines that are complex and highly consistent.
Dedicated to innovation, with a commitment to authenticity, their mission is to spread their passion by offering wines we believe in. We love what we do, and hope it shows in every bottle!
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.