Health & Fitness
Seghesio and Chamisal Winemakers Visit West Metro
A wine novice meets with two big-time Napa winemakers visiting the Twin Cities.
As a wannabe wine-guy, it doesn't take much to get me excited when it comes to the wine. Give me a glass, let me try my best to summarize it and I'm happy. On March 28 though, I was offered an amazing opportunity to taste flights from two well-known California vineyards and discuss the wines with the winemakers.
The first winemaker I met was Fintan "Fin" du Fresne, Head Winemaker at Chamisal Vineyards. Chamisal is located in Edna Valley "equidistant between L.A. and San Francisco," as Fin put it. Edna Valley's close proximity to the coast provides a cool climate, especially favorable for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines, the staples of Chamisal.
Fin talked me through a flight featuring Chamisal's Estate Chardonnay, Califa Chardonnay, Stainless Chardonnay, Estate Pinot Noir and Califa Pinot Noir. "Califa" is the Modoc Indian word for "prettiest one," and thus represents the vineyard's signature brand.
The wines were all exceptional, but the Stainless Fermented Chardonnay was the most exciting for me. It's probably because I'm a rookie, but tasting a Stainless Fermented wine was unlike any wine I'd tried before (at least not that I noticed). The wine is fermented in stainless tanks rather than wooden barrels, bringing out the 'pure' taste of Chamisal's powerful Chardonnay grape.
At the next table, I met Ted Seghesio of the family-owned Seghesio Vineyards, which has been producing wines since 1895. Seghesio mixes its history with an emphasis on grape quality to create some of the world's best Zinfindels. The vineyard has also made the Wine Spectator’s annual Top 100 List six times.
Seghesio's flight included its Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Sonoma Zinfindel, Rockpile Zinfindel, Old Vine Zinfindel, Omaggio Cab/Sangiovese blend, Venom (a Sangiovese clone grown at the top of Rattlesnake Hill) and the Cortina Zinfindel (named after the dominant soil at the Seghesio Vineyard).
I enjoyed all of Seghesio's offerings, but the most unique was definitely the Old Vine Zinfindel. The Old Vine Zinfindel grapes are produced on 98-year-old vines, creating flavors that cannot be reproduced on a younger vine.
The Omaggio is a 60% Cabernet Sauvignon 40% Sangiovese blend barreled in French Oak, and was created as a tribute to the Seghesio's Italian heritage. "Omaggio" is the Italian word for "homage."
Meeting the winemakers was a great experience. I'd like to thank the Crimson Wine Group for inviting me to the events, as well as Wine Merchants and Haskell's for their hospitality. The tastings were held at the Golden Valley Country Club and Haskell's in Minnetonka.