This page is using the 1Up product layout set under Page Properties.
2025 SF Chronicle Sweepstakes Red Wine
2022 Barbera, Calaveras
Limited Release
Limit 1 bottle per person please
Not much Barbera is grown in Calaveras County near the southern reaches of the foothills. That could change following the showing of the Val du Vino Barbera at the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - best red wine. The Val du Vino Barbera stood out for the balance and clarity of the variety's telltale juicy cherry and berry fruit, insinuation of just enough oak to provide flirting diversion, a winking flash of anise, bashful tannins, chirpy acidity, and thin thread of sweetness. Yes, a more-than-usually complex Barbera.
Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style (we call ours the Nobel Cuvée), but can also be a gorgeous stand alone varietal. This vintage has a hint of floral white flowers on the nose. The first sip boasts bright fruit up front with medium tannins and a long finish.
Aged on French & American Oak, then bottle cellared until our November 2023 Wine Club Release, makes for a bold, yet well balanced wine. This dark, medium-plus bodied wine has soft fruit aromas of black current and tart blueberries followed by hints of cassis and vanilla. Layers of red and black fruit with a full tannin structure that extend to a long smooth finish.
Light and joyous, our Grenache will awaken your palate with bright red fruits reminiscent of sun ripened strawberries and red raspberries. Aged 18 months in French Oak allows for a delicate tannin structure and subtle nuances of mineral complexity. This Grenache will make you yearn for warm summer days but it’s also the perfect wine to pair with your holiday feasts!
This blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre is styled like the traditional wine blend of the Rhône region in France. The wine offers brightness from the Grenache, dark berry flavor from the Syrah and is complimented by the velvety texture of the Mourvèdre.
This Bordeaux Varietal is one of the grapes we use to make our fan favorite Noble Cuvée. This wine offers bold notes of stewed stonefruit on the nose with a hint of baking spices. Dark berries and cherries dance on your palate, finishing off with medium plus tannins and a hint of warm vanilla.
A stand alone Merlot that really Stands Out!
This wine starts with an elegant earthiness on the nose, with hints of baked berries and violets. It offers medium plus tannins that leave you desiring another sip. Merlot & Cabernet Franc make up the majority of this beautiful Bordeaux blend; rounded out with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and a hint of Zinfandel.
Petite Sirah is known for its personality: a dense and muscular red that stands out with chewy tannins and bold flavors. The color alone is saturated black-ruby. This vintage has dense blackberry fruit character, mixed with black pepper and licorice notes. The blackberry and blueberry aromas are perked up by warm spices, violet and a flinty minerality; finishing with a chocolate dust aand slight tobacco element adding to its complexity.
This medium-bodied blend (Zinfandel/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot) initially hits your palate with intense dark berry fruit and then finishes with hints of baked marion berry. This wine has soft round tannins that linger on your tongue.
Our Second Dragon Has Returned!!
Sangiovese is a delightful, medium-bodied wine with higher acidity and lower tannins. This vintage has baked raspberries with hints of dark cherry on the palate and finishes with a bit of earthiness. Pair with any Italian cuisine; minestrone soup, pesto pizza and chicken parmigiana are a few of our favorites!
