I previously wrote about our white wines in the Journey of 2025. That was only half the story. We also began crafting some wonderful red wines. While whites often go from grape to bottle in less than a year, most reds require a bit more patience—though a few are ready to enjoy much sooner.
In 2025, we harvested and created four red wines.
We started with Cabernet Franc. For those not familiar with this wonderful varietal, Cabernet Franc is one of the parents—I’d say the “father”—of Cabernet Sauvignon. The “mother” is Sauvignon Blanc, a white wine grape.
Sorting berries to remove MOG (Material other than Grapes)
Cabernet Franc is softer, less tannic, and more elegant—slightly lighter-bodied and more approachable than Cabernet Sauvignon. For those who don’t enjoy heavy, tannic reds but still want dark fruit and a velvety finish, this is your wine. We harvested 3.5 tons, and it is now aging in French oak barrels. I may have to sneak some out for you to try at one of our summer events.
A week later, we crushed and fermented one ton of Grenache. Originally from northern Spain (Garnacha), it is widely planted in the
Cab Franc post destem/crush with dry ice on top to cool it down below 10°C (50°f)
Southern Rhône and beyond. This lighter red offers bright aromas and red fruit flavors of strawberry and cherry—perfect for summertime. We produced two barrels, and I am very pleased with how it turned out. It is already bottled and ready to enjoy, and I suspect every last drop will be gone before we make our next New Year’s resolutions.
Close behind Grenache came three tons of Barbera. Naturally high in acidity, this grape led me to focus more on TA and pH than Brix when determining harvest timing. We picked at a TA of 7.0, and the resulting wine has been impressive. It is currently aging in French oak barrels, with bottling expected later this year.
For our final harvest of 2025, we produced a very small lot of Cabernet Sauvignon—just one barrel. This varietal takes time, so stay tuned over
Barbera Punch downs done twice per day for 2 weeks
the next year or two. In the meantime, we are bottling two barrels of our 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon in the coming weeks, and it has matured beautifully.
We have also released a Cabernet Sauvignon–based red blend named Heritage Blend. Dark fruit and plum lead the way. As noted in the tasting profile, it is “bold yet approachable”—easy-drinking and soft on the palate.
We’ve priced it at $19.48.
Can you guess why?
Hint: it’s called Heritage – Think local.
The work in the vineyard and cellar is done—now comes the best part: opening bottles and sharing them with you this summer.
