Cinnabar Winery Releases Two New Vinos

Vino, vino and more vino ...

Cinnabar Winery, 14612 Big Basin Way, releases two new wines today, May 1: 2012 Incantation and 2012 Incantation Blanc.

OK, I'm not a vino connoisseur, but this much I know from our friend Joe Gargiulo, one of the spokespeople for the popular winery that's been around since 1981.

The wines carry a suggested retail price of $25 for a 750-milliliter bottle.

Incantation is an off-dry Beaujolais-style red blend of grenache noir and souzão while Incantation Blanc is an off-dry Rhône-style white blend of orange muscat, viognier and grenache blanc, Gargiulo said.

The wines may be served slightly chilled or even over ice, and are intended for popular enjoyment during informal seasonal gatherings or casual sipping with everyday meals, he added.

Winemaker George Troquato applied simple fermentations to achieve fun, accessible wines that are free of the toasted oak components, heavy tannins, and higher alcohols associated with most barrel-aged wines, he noted.

“Incantation is a non-traditional food wine,” said Troquato. “While most California wines pair best with Euro-influenced foods, Incantation complements a range of spicy cuisines from regions such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, or India.”

All grapes were sourced from Sunset Vineyard in Hames Valley, a sub-region of the Monterey AVA, situated at the southern end of Monterey County. The vineyard combines good growing conditions including rocky shale soils, elevations of 600–800 feet, and a climate that is warmer and dryer than the nearby San Miguel district of Paso Robles, according to Gargiulo.

The wines will be available at the Cinnabar Tasting Room in Saratoga, via its online Wine Shop, or at select retail shops and restaurants in Northern California.