Cline Cellars in Sonoma, Ca.

Three vineyards planted in the deep, sandy soil of Contra Costa supply us with this Mourvedre. These vineyards benefit from the evening cooling effects of the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers, which allows the grapes to hold their bright acid character. The combination of extremely well-drained sandy soil and low average rainfall creates a tonnage-limiting environment that produces grapes with great intensity.

The wine is made from the red grape Grenache. It is made as a Blanc de Noir or a "white of a red grape." The wine's very light salmon color comes from the pigment extraction from the skins. This color pick-up occurs during the gentle crushing and pressing of the grapes, which happens before fermentation begins. We ferment the juice slowly at cold temperatures to preserve the bright fruit flavors.