Winemaker Notes
This wine presents aromas of refreshing ocean spray, pear skins, and citrus zest. On the palate, it is vibrant and expressive, with flavors of lemon, lime, fig, and a touch of ginger, delivering a bright and coastal character.
Blend: 60% Greco, 23% Falanghina, 17% Fiano
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The trend of Italian varieties grown in California is one to watch and then discover in wines like this one. This wine is lush, with aromas of orange blossom, white nectarine, green papaya, lemongrass and mineral on the nose. The flavors on the palate are kaffir lime and white peach, intermingled with fresh herbs, orange zest, mineral and a mouthwatering, dry finish. Pair with grilled sand dabs.
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Vinous
The 2023 Gemina is a blend of Greco, Falanghina and Fiano, all native varieties of Italy's Campania. Dried pear, white flowers, chamomile and savory notes build beautifully. There's gorgeous textural depth and resonance here.
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Wine Spectator
Energetic, refreshing and distinctive, offering a sleek, mouthwatering mix of lime sherbet, pomelo and lemon balm notes, with touches of lemongrass and lemon verbena, plus a lingering hint of salted, preserved lemon. Greco, Falanghina and Fiano.
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James Suckling
An Italian style white blend of greco, falanghina and fiano from three districts of California, inspired by Campania. It is super crisp, acidic and mouth-puckering, with intense lemon, lime, grapefruit and green apple flavors accented by minerals and white pepper. Light-bodied, made for food pairing.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Inspired by the wines of southern Italy, the 2023 Gemina is a blend of 60% Greco, 23% Falanghina and 17% Fiano matured for six months in used French oak and stainless steel. It has pure scents of apples, freshly baked bread, spring honey and almonds.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.