Summer Sippers -- FOUR Bottles of WINE to help you Chill

Each of these wines captures the essence of summer in a glass, offering crisp acidity, bright fruit flavors, and a refreshing finish. Perfect for enjoying on a warm afternoon or paired with fresh, seasonal dishes!

Onward Art Label Series - Onward Wines 2022 Rose of Zinfandel, Mendocino

Delicate aromas of white peaches intertwined with wild roses; layers of citrus, red plum and yellow quince flavors; and a refreshing, clean finish, thanks to its vibrant acidity. This wine is brimming with layers of vibrant fruit and minerality, while having silky texture. She is friendly, fun, and easy to be around!

This old vine Zinfandel is from Hill vineyard in Mendocino, which was planted in the early 1970s and is organically farmed by the Johnsons, who are 5th generation growers and the owners of our long time favorite vineyard Hawkeye Ranch in Redwood Valley.

This is a whole cluster press rose, which was gently pressed for about 4 hours of skin contact time and then the juice was cold settled in stainless and fermented in neutral French oak BBL and puncheons.

This label features a painting by Sally White King, visit her website sallywhiteking.com to see more of the works of art that this amazing woman creates.

Name of Winery: Onward

Bottle Size: 750ml

Number of Bottles: One

Varietal: Rose of Zinfandel

Appellation: Mendocino

Onward Wines are single-vineyard, site-driven wines from vineyard sites that are very special to me. I am a true believer in personal connection and there is a story behind each vineyard site and how it came to be part of my portfolio. In these stories, you will learn more about the people behind these vineyards. I liken my connection to these vineyards to that of one’s favorite shirt or coffee mug or chair. Like a well-worn fabric or a slightly chipped mug that may have initially caught my eye for its beauty, but over the years has won my heart because it just feels right. When it comes to vineyards this happens too, because of a combination of my connection with the vines themselves and my connection with those that tend them. For me, the grower's hands are most definitely part of the terroir.

My style is about letting the vines speak. They are the art, I am the canvas, and my job is to give them a chance to share their beauty in each and every vintage. My decisions are driven by the vineyard and the vintage, my cellar practices are to uphold the truths I find in the vineyard. To this end, I pick early looking for a balance of flavors at lower ripeness, as I find this is when each vineyard is in its most unique expression of self.

Discover more at Onward Wines

Bonita Bonita 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

Bonita Bonita 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

The 2022 Bonita Bonita Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley is medium straw in color; the bouquet offers a light herbal note without being green or grassy that sometimes cooler weather sites express from this variety. These scents include young pine needle shoots, lemon zest, gooseberry, and passion fruit, green apple and hay that is not fully yet dry. Brightly lit across the palate, it is minerally and refreshing with flavors of apple, mandarin orange, lemon and pomelo. Citrusy but not overly so. Its rounded texture complements the vibrant palate.

Name of Winery: Hill Family Winery / Bonita Bonita

Bottle Size: 750ml

Number of Bottles: One

Vintage: 2022

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Appellation: Napa Valley

Nikki and Brie Garcia, formally known as the Bella twins, started their careers as wrestlers in 2007. They had a hit reality show in 2013, Total Divas, which led to their own spinoff show, Total Bellas. One thing that unraveled on the reality shows is Nikki and Brie’s love for wine!! Anytime the twins had days off from their jet-setting schedule, they would head to Napa Valley for good wine and relaxation.

It’s been their dream to have their own wine brand. That dream became a reality in 2017 when they launched their first wine label Bella Radici, then from there they launched Bonita Bonita.

In 2020 they decided to follow their hearts to Napa Valley. Now they are raising their families in a place they love and living their dream, having their own speakeasy tasting room in downtown Napa Valley.

You might see Nikki and Brie here or there on your tv screens hosting shows, but you’ll always find them drinking wine amongst the vines.

Bonita Bonita

Smith Story Wine Cellars - 2021 Lord Sandwich Blanc

Smith Story Wine Cellars 2021 Lord Sandwich Blanc

We teamed up with our friends at Meeker Vineyard in selecting small lot white wine from the 2021 North Coast Harvest. The 2021 Lord Sandwich Blanc is a fantastic blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho and Grenache Blanc.

Name of Winery: Smith Story Wine Cellars

Bottle Size: 750ml

Number of Bottles: One

Vintage: 2021

Varietal: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, and Grenache Blanc

Appellation: North Coast, California

Smith Story Wine Cellars is the tale of true love. In May of 2013, Eric and Ali eloped on the Big Island of Hawaii to say I Do; also where the name Smith Story Wine Cellars was conceived. Bay Area born Eric and Fort Worth, Texas native Alison met while both working for K&L Wine Merchants in Northern California over a decade ago.

A friendship flourished while discovering wines from far away lands, and visits to the Anderson Valley along with dear friends and their beloved dogs Henley and Lakota. “Drink what you love, love what you drink,”  Eric often said to Alison while trying new wines over the years together. 
 
Today they bring a combined 40+ years of wine industry experience to manage Smith Story Wine Cellars. Eric’s wine buying expertise and retail management lends a keen eye and discerning palate as he became the German, Loire, Alsace, Austrian and Greek wine buyer for K&L. Ali’s hospitality, wine buying, consumer marketing and national sales experience completes the entire wine-supply-chain as she transitioned from her decade old company TexaCali Wine Co. to drive the vision and brand for Smith Story Wine.

Alison Smith, grew up in the DFW Metroplex and Northern California native Eric founded the winery in Sonoma County. Smith Story Wine Cellars is based in Sonoma. In late 2021 they relocated their tasting room from Philo, California (the Anderson Valley) to Healdsburg, California. 

In 2014 they launched "Farmers First" on KICKSTARTER and were fully funded in 30 days. Later that year, along with their dear Goldendoodle, Lord Sandwich, Ali Story founded a non-profit Socks For Sandwich, which donates new socks to the needy.

The birth of Smith Story Wine Cellars can be followed along the way as Eric and Ali write about their start-up experiences in The Chapters.

Smith Story Wine Cellars

Groth 2022 Estate Chardonnay, Hillview Vineyard, Napa Valley

Groth Estate Chardonnay exemplifies our dedication to creating expressive white wines that capture the distinct character of our cherished family vineyard estates. From a site that is home to two generations of our family, this elegant and beautifully balanced Chardonnay is the culmination of extensive investment in the health of our vineyards and a meticulous honing of our skills in the cellar.

Groth 2022 Estate Chardonnay captures the quintessential characteristics of its varietal and provenance. Inviting aromas of crème brûlée, green apple, ripe cantaloupe and apricot jam greet the nose with an underlay of orange blossom, lychee and baking spice. The palate is rich and luxurious with an opulent surge of grilled peach and yellow plum kept in focus by a lift of orange zest acidity, finishing long with a toasted brioche echo.

Name of Winery: Groth Vineyards and Winery

Bottle Size: 750mL

Number of Bottles: One

Varietal: Chardonnnay

Appellation: Napa Valley

A breathtakingly beautiful place set among centuries-old oak trees and a patchwork of meticulously planted vineyards, Oakville has become recognized as one of the world’s preeminent wine regions. Here soil and climate coalesce, allowing us to produce elegant, age-worthy, and immensely enjoyable Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit for this delicious wine comes from our sustainably farmed estate vineyard and carefully selected lots from our grower neighbors. 

For more information, visit Groth Vineyards and Winery