Dear Cellar Society Members,
Spring has sprung here at the winery and it’s a beautiful time of year to visit our Tasting Room in Apple Hill! As the vineyard awakens from its winter slumber, we’re gearing up for an exciting season ahead, filled with fresh energy, new wine releases and the optimal Cellar Society member experience.
We’ve been working diligently at the winery, fine-tuning and bottling white wines from the 2024 vintage, including the new 2024 Viognier, which we are elated to be releasing this Spring. These new wines are a true reflection of the Spring season—fresh, vibrant, and full of life. We will also soon be bottling red wines from previous vintages that are ready to be bottled and will be released to club members when they are at their best. Stay tuned!
This time of year is also when we get back out into the vineyard and begin nurturing the vines to ensure a successful harvest. The vines have been dormant since late last year but will soon begin a new growth cycle. Springtime is all about renewal, and pruning the vines right before bud break to allow them to be as healthy and fruitful going forward is a great reflection of that theme.
The Spring release will feature two new wines- the 2024 Viognier from the Noriega Vineyard in the El Dorado AVA and the 2020 Zinfandel from the Mabera Vineyard in Amador County.
The 2024 Viognier was barrel fermented and features a lively and fresh bouquet that jumps out of the glass. You’ll find a pleasant complexity of zesty tangerine peel and floral notes that balance nicely with rich vanilla and crème brûlée aromas.
The 2020 Zinfandel is the perfect easy-drinking companion for any occasion, offering a smooth and inviting experience from start to finish. With rich, ripe fruit flavors that are perfectly balanced by soft tannins, I feel it strikes a harmonious tone on the palate.
We hope that you can join us for our Spring release party on May 3rd and 4th. Also, keep an eye out for other upcoming events at 1850 Wine Cellars, where you’ll have the chance to connect with fellow wine lovers, taste new releases, and enjoy everything our beautiful Tasting Room has to offer. We can’t wait to share new experiences with you!
Here’s to an incredible Spring season filled with great wines, good company, and shared memories.
Cheers!
Brian Darwazeh, Winemaker
2024 Viognier
Noriega Vineyard, El Dorado
Noriega Vineyard, El Dorado
TASTING NOTES: We are so excited to release our new viognier! This wine has aromas of tangerine zest, green apple, spring flowers, crème brûlée and vanilla with bright acidity and flavors of dried peach, fresh pear, and toasted marshmallow. This wine has the fresh acidity of a sauvignon blanc with the body of a chardonnay.
WINEMAKING NOTES: Viognier tends to be slippery in the press, so this lot was first destemmed and then crushed prior to pressing in order to release ample juice and acidity into the resulting viognier juice. Once the heavy particulates were settled in tank, the juice was transferred to American Oak barrels and barrel fermented to better incorporate oak structure and nuance. After this viognier finished fermenting, the lees (expired yeast cells) were occasionally stirred while the wine barrel aged, which gives the wine a round and creamy mouthfeel.
AGING: Aged for 6 months in American oak, this viognier is ready to drink now. However, six months to a year from now the acid and oak present in this wine will be more symbiotic and integrated.
FOOD PAIRING: This wine will pair very well with dishes that have bright, punchy flavors featuring citrus or fresh herbs. We recommend panzanella salad, spinach ravioli with lemon-garlic cream sauce, pesto pasta salad, arugula salad, and scallops with this wine. A viognier such as this, with a body close to that of a lightly oaked chardonnay, can pair well with chicken tagine with apricots and almonds served over saffron rice, or roast chicken with lemon, fennel, herbs and potatoes. We’d also love to taste this with mushroom risotto with fresh lemon thyme.
WINE SPECS
100% Viognier
13% alcohol
70 cases produced
$30 per bottle
2020 Zinfandel
Mabera Vineyard, Amador County
Mabera Vineyard, Amador County
TASTING NOTES: We love the blackberry liqueur, baking spice and graham cracker profile of this wine! The deeply concentrated aromatics will entice you to take a sip. You’ll taste stewed plum and dark fruit flavors with medium bodied tannins concentrated on the mid palate with a peppery finish.
WINEMAKING NOTES: This zinfandel was picked ripe with the intention of creating a signature 1850 zinfandel with rich and jammy flavors. The lot was partially crushed, leaving about half of the fruit to enter the fermentation tank whole berry. A steady fermentation took place to facilitate ample extraction of color and classic zinfandel-esque spice. After the primary fermentation, the wine was then lightly pressed to avoid over extracting tannins.
AGING: Aging this zinfandel for 24 months in 50% American Oak, 25% French Oak and 25% neutral oak developed a nice fine-grain tannin structure in the wine. This wine was also bottle aged for 18 months. Drink this wine upon release, as it is drinking perfectly right now with vibrant fruit character. Or age this wine for 3 to 5 years more after its release in the spring of 2025 to enjoy more candied nut and savory umami flavors.
FOOD PAIRING: Zinfandel can handle a bit of spice if you’re interested in trying more unusual dishes like Indian Spiced Ribs or Harissa-crusted pork roast. In both dishes the sweetness of the meat and the savory spice mixes pair beautifully with this zinfandel. Grilled steak, ribs with BBQ sauce, pasta with red sauce, or a rich vegetarian pasta are all good choices if you’re looking for less exotic flavors. If you’re feeling adventurous and looking for vegetarian or vegan pairings, a black bean burger lathered in BBQ sauce and topped with fried onions plays nicely with this wine. Zinfandel is a food-friendly and fun wine, so don’t be afraid to see if it pairs with whatever you’re eating tonight!
WINE SPECS:
90% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah
14.2% alcohol
74 cases produced
$34 per bottle