Winemaker Notes
In 2009, Elijah Pfister and Chris Nikolopoulos started a little import company called Maritime Wine Trading based in San Francisco. Given their proximity to Napa and Sonoma and their backgrounds in fine wine, the two were immediately inundated with requests by colleagues to make wines of their own from domestic grapes. With their growing network and proximity to great sources, it was simple enough to go into their “backyard” so to speak, and work with some of the best wines, grown and made by the best winemakers and from the top appellations in the world. The two partners got so good at sourcing and blending, they decided to make it a fulltime focus and purchased Nine North Wine Co from their friends based in Napa. Now they produce, market and sell the Nine North portfolio alongside the imported offering from Maritime nationally. Nine North Wine Company represents a varied portfolio of limited production, handcrafted wines from California, Oregon and Washington State. They specialize in offering exceptional quality and value across more than 15 bottlings, with prices that won’t dent your pocketbook.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.