California Alpine Wine / Notes
Wine Notes
California Alpine Wine / Site Notes / Vintage Detail

Current Releases.

A closer look at the current wines: where they come from, how they are made, and what to expect.

01 / White / Salt Air

Chardonnay

Grown on a steep, rocky mountain top along the Mendocino ridgeline, this Chardonnay is farmed organic and biodynamic and built around old Wente California heritage selection fruit.

Fermented natively with no additives and no adjustments, then aged in both French oak and steel for balance, it lands in a place that feels mountain-grown and sea-shaped at once.

In The Glass

Lemon peel, grapefruit, and a sharp streak of flint right from the start. Bright and lively, with inner tension, stony minerality, and a little crunch of sea salt.

Mountain concentration meets coastal freshness.
Site
Mendocino AVA, from a steep rocky mountain-top site along the coastal ridgeline.
Farming
Organic and biodynamic.
Vines
Old Wente California heritage selection Chardonnay.
Cellar
Native fermentation, no additives, no adjustments, aged in French oak and steel.
Tech
13% ABV, 3.3 pH, 6.5 TA.
02 / Red / Redwood Forest

Pinot Noir

This Pinot Noir blends four distinct mountain sites across the Santa Cruz Mountains: a tiny 1.3-acre block first planted in 1995, two south-facing alpine vineyards at roughly 1,500 feet, and a northwest-facing hillside east of Corralitos near the San Andreas Fault.

Each site brings something different to the blend, which is exactly the point: coastal freshness, mountain concentration, savory structure, and a little wildness around the edges. The fruit is grown organically, hand-tended, picked at night, and fermented natively in small lots.

In The Glass

Mountain Pinot Noir of structure and depth. Red and black cherry, pomegranate, warming spices, and a touch of soil tones. High natural acidity and a small amount of whole cluster give the wine grip, vibrancy, and a long, savory finish.

Bright, full-bodied, focused with a fine core of fruit. Complex and beautifully balanced.
Site
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, drawn from four alpine mountain sites.
Farming
Organic, hand-tended, minimal-input farming.
Vines
La Tache, Swan, Suitcase, and Grand Cru Burgundy selections.
Aging
9 months in 10% new French oak.
Style
10% whole cluster, structured, savory, and lifted.
Tech
13.5% ABV, 5.8 TA, 3.7 pH, 700 cases.
03 / Pink / Flotilla Season

Rose

Dry, bright, and almost too easy to finish. This is the bottle for warm rocks, cold water, and long afternoons that start casually and stay that way.

In The Glass

Watermelon rind, tart strawberry, and a clean, stony snap that keeps it more mountain than poolside candy.

Style
Dry, bright, and built for warm weather with a little wind in it.
Mood
Best in the presence of pals and on uneven ground.
04 / Red / Field Issue

Cabernet Sauvignon

A livelier, fresher expression of California mountain Cabernet. The fruit profile stays dark and grounded, but the shape is brighter, firmer, and more energetic than the valley-floor norm.

In The Glass

Black fruit, scrubby herbs, and mountain structure with a fresher line and more lift than expected.

Style
Mountain Cab with tension, savor, and a cleaner finish.
Status
Coming soon.