Dinner Party Pairings! Four Wines - Pet nat Rose, Sauv Blanc, Merlot + Cabernet Sauvignon

Thoughtfully crafted wines can really shine when paired with a thoughtfully prepared meal. This Pet Nat Rose will pair beautifully with prosciutto-wrapped melon or fresh oysters and a mignonette. After this course, share this Sauvignon Blanc with a shrimp ceviche or goat cheese salad. Next, enjoy the Merlot with a savory mushroom risotto and finish up the meal with Cabernet Sauvignon and a juicy ribeye or grilled eggplant with miso-glazed vegetables. 

Onward Wines 2022 Little Darlin' Petillant Naturel Rose, Suisun Valley

This wine is still 100% wine grapes, predominately Malvasia, with no flavorings or additives, but I changed things up a bit in the cellar.

Here I took un-pressed and still fermenting Malvasia Bianca grapes from the 2022 Skin Fermented Malvasia Bianca lot, after draining the free run from this tank.  A small amount of filtered water was then added to the remaining unpressed must, where the grapes were foot tread and allowed to finish fermenting.  To add complexity in flavors, after fermentation was complete this lot was pressed overtop of Pinot Noir skins, at which point the wine gained color and aromatic complexity.

To further gain aromatic complexity and layers, I splashed fermenting Malvasia Bianca into the pressed and settled wine and then hand bottled the wine, so it finished fermenting in bottle, making her a Pét Nat, loaded full of refreshing natural bubbles.

This label features a painting by daughter Chloe, she is my Little Darlin, who is both a talented artist and keen helper in the cellar.m She did the majority of the foot treading on this lot.

Winemakers tasting Notes: Boasting loads of tart freshness with notes of wild raspberry, tart cranberry, cara cara oranges and a hint of white stilton and kumquat, all the while framed on a rebellious undercarriage of attitude that seems to boc in the face of boundaries.  She is a true wild child who is having a refreshingly good time!

Name of Winery: Onward

Bottle Size: 750ml

Number of Bottles: One

Varietal: Rose of Malvasia Bianca

Appellation: 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

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

PlumpJack Winery 2022 Merlot, Napa Valley

As you swirl your glass, delicate aromas of bing cherry and raspberry emerge and are intertwined with the comforting embrace of warming spices. A hint of graham cracker, vanilla, and caramel soon follows, accompanied by subtle notes of dried herbs and a hint of lavender. Upon the first sip, your palate is enveloped in a velvety texture, caressed by a symphony of flavors. Succulent blackberry, cherry, and boysenberry burst forth. The subtle allure of dried herbs adds a delightful depth, harmonizing effortlessly with the rich complexity of cocoa and caramel. The wine’s freshness is underscored by a vivacious acidity, lending a lively energy to each sip. Firm yet fine tannins provide structure and elegance, leading to a harmonious and persistent finish.

Winery Name: PlumpJack Winery

Bottle Size: 750ml

Number of Bottles: One

Varietal: Merlot

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

Eleven Eleven 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll, Napa Valley

The 2022 XI Cabernet Sauvignon is the 5th vintage producing our proprietary Bordeaux blend. Sourced from 11:11 & Destin Vineyards in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, this wine permits our winemaking team to craft the perfect blend that directly expresses their virtuosity. Currant-colored boasting aromas of rich roasted coffee and concentrated oak. The Cabernet Sauvignon-based red blend has a medium-plus body that is well-balanced with a smooth texture, structured tannins, and rich expressive red fruit. Notes of cherry, plum, and blackberry entice the palate with a long, lingering finish. Fill up your glass with this beautiful wine to elevate your spirit.

Name of Winery: Eleven Eleven

Bottle Size: 750mL

Number of Bottles: One

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

Appellation: Oak Knoll Napa Valley

The name Eleven Eleven represents meant-to-be moments that embody synchronicity, inspiration, and soul. Our wine and our journey embody these elements that celebrate the everyday moments that make life extraordinary. It is in this spirit that we look forward to celebrating new moments to come.

The time 11:11 symbolizes a perfectly balanced moment on the clock, making the winery's name a positively perfect choice. We hope you’ll feel inspired to make your moment extraordinary whenever you drink our wines, visit our property, or simply see that special time on the clock

Learn more about Eleven Eleven