Winemaker Notes
This spicy, full-flavored Tinto Rey wines truly showcase the distinctive terroir of Northern California’s Dunnigan Hills AVA. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning. A portion of the grapes were whole cluster pressed, then the wine was fermented in neutral oak barrels and stainless-steel tanks. Barrel fermented lots were aged 5 months in neutral oak to increase complexity and mouthfeel, resulting in a wine that is crisp and refreshing. Here in the United States, Verdejo is hard to come by, but this Spanish grape is well suited for the Mediterranean climate in the Dunnigan Hills appellation.
Perfect as an aperitif, this racy white wine pairs well with creamy cheeses, spicy shrimp or a salmon salad.
Blend: 89% Verdejo, 11% Chardonnay
Captivating and full of character, Verdejo grows with great success in Rueda, Spain and virtually nowhere else in Europe. It has become so trendy in Spain since the turn of the century that plantings have also increased tremendously. Somm Secret—Contrary to what some may think, it is actually not related to the Portugese variety with a very similar name, Verdelho. In fact, DNA profiling suggests it may be a sibling of Godello, another native of NW Spain.
Mitigated by mild Sacramento River Delta breezes, the Dunnigan Hills appellation is in the northwest portion of Yolo County and has a Mediterranean climate.