Waiting for the Sun

FOUR refreshing bottles of wine to enjoy when it heats up.

Onward 2022 Malvasia Bianca, Skin Fermented, Capp Inn Ranch, Suisun Valley

This wine is bursting with a broad range of aromas that span from magnolia blossoms after a rain shower, fresh melon rind, Valencia orange peel and quince marmalade, and warm feijoa crumble, the palate is plush with a soft silky texture.

Every time I smell this wine it makes me smile, and whisks me away on a tropical vacation. She is Tahiti in a glass. 

The key to this wine is that, while it is a skin-fermented wine, it is not an oxidative style. I feel this is very important. I wanted this wine to be enhanced by the aromatics and tannins in the skins, but not become oxidized or sherry-like, so that it would maintain its sense of place and identity as the third sister in the group of Malvasia Bianca’s from Capp Inn Ranch.

The grapes were cold soaked, then allowed to warm up just enough so native fermentation kicked in. Then the fermentation was carried out at cool temperatures, as is typical for white wine. Each day, the wine was punched down as needed and fermentation was carried out for three weeks. During this time I was just listening to the wine and letting it guide the way, meaning I was open to taking it off skins at any point at which it seemed ready…however, it just got prettier and prettier and I kept falling more and more in love. So I carried out its full fermentation on the skins until dryness.

Winery: Onward

Bottle Size: 750ml

Number of Bottles: One

Varietal: Malvasia Bianca

Appellation: Capp Inn Ranch, Suisun Valley

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

Joel Gott Wines, 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, California, 750ml

The Joel Gott Wines 2022 California Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of white peach, honeydew melon, guava and passionfruit with citrus notes. On the palate, the wine opens with tropical fruit flavors followed by crisp, refreshing acidity on the mid-palate and notes of tangerine and grapefruit on the long, clean balanced finish.

Name of Winery: Joel Gott Wines

Bottle Size: 750mL

Number of Bottles: One

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Appellation: California

Since our start in 1996, we have selected the best fruit from growing regions in California, Oregon and Washington which we blend to create more balanced, clean, complex, and elegant wines. We are geared towards continuing to give our customers expressive and food-friendly wines at great prices. We hope you enjoy and will let us know what you think!

Learn more about Joel Gott Wines.

Trapi del Bueno 2022 'Hand Made' Sauvignon Blanc, Patagonia, Chile

This energizing wine hails from Chile’s northern Patagonia / southern Lake District and is a mineral-driven, zippy Sauvignon Blanc that blasts citrus like grapefruit, passion fruit, guava contrasted by a dry, saline nature that makes it lip-smacking delicious. Wonderful with seafood, as an aperitivo, with ceviche, or with a chevre goat cheese tart and tomato salad.

The original plantings, dating back to the early 1990’s, sit in gravelly soils studded with obsidian stones brought across the valley from Glass Mountain by the Native Americans that once camped along the creek. This vineyard is farmed “beyond organic” by Jim Gamble to cordon trained vines, low to the ground, which undulate along the alluvial fan allowing for wines of deep color. A cool evening breeze brought over the mountains from the Pacific Ocean assists in balancing the vineyard’s depth with a natural freshness, complementing the aromatically unique fruit from this well-draining site.

Name of Winery: Trapi del Bueno

Bottle Size: 750mL

Number of Bottles: One

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Appellation: Patagonia, Chile

Trapi del Bueno winery and vineyard is the passion project of two life-long friends, winemaker Rodrigo Romero and agronomist Luis Moller. With a small production and 14 hectares of vines planted in the coastal hills of Osorno, this is true cool climate Chile.

Directly imported by Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences

PlumpJack Winery 2023 Chardonnay, Napa Valley

The cool vintage preserved the brighter, fresher, more delicate aromatics of the Chardonnay grape and retained a vibrant, mouth-watering acidity, allowing us to craft a Chardonnay of great complexity, purity, and precision. The nose opens with notes of lemon, lime, Granny Smith apple, and wet stone. This is layered with rich yet delicate aromas of cantaloupe, honeydew, nectarine, and honeysuckle aromas. The oak in the wine just slightly shows through with a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg, adding depth to the nose. The palate is rich and round with bright and lively acidity, which, together, leave the impression of a tangy, creamy lemon custard. The acidity pulls the wine to the back of the palate, giving it great length, energy, and life.

Winery Name: PlumpJack Winery

Bottle Size: 750ml

Number of Bottles: One

Varietal: Chardonnay

Appellation: Napa Valley

Inspired by one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters, Sir John “PlumpJack” Falstaff, whose fun-loving and down-to-earth disposition was only rivaled by his fierce loyalty to Prince Henry V, with whom he shares more than a few goblets of sack (wine) at the local tavern. We pay allegiance to our world-class vineyard by crafting high-quality wines that honor the land, and we celebrate the convivial spirit of our namesake with their inviting, approachable style.

Discover more at PlumpJack Winery