From Babcock Winery and Vineyards

Integrity and quality are paramount to the wines of Babcock Winery and Vineyards. Because of Bryan's exceptionally high standards, no matter the varietal or vintage, Babcock wines are always among the elite.

Babcock wines feature cool climate, estate-grown fruit as well as grapes from select local vineyards. Highly intellectual and flavorful, each wine possesses distinctive characteristics. These unique qualities are further showcased in a "Terroir" program with multiple annual offerings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon labeled with specific vineyard block designations. Within a vintage, one varietal may have several different designations.

Still family-owned and operated, Babcock Winery and Vineyards is an expanding 20,000-case winery with 80 acres currently planted to Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Experimental varieties such as Albarino and Tempranillo from Spain, and Pignolo from Italy, are being evaluated.

What has Bryan excited these days is the promotion of a newly BATF approved appellation, Santa Rita Hills. Named for the hills that lie in the western end of the Santa Ynez Valley between two other ranges-- the Purisimas to the north and the Santa Rosas to the south-- this region is situated at its closest point within 10 miles of the Pacific Ocean. Babcock's Winery and Vineyard and a number of other nearby vineyards are in the heart of this viticulturally distinct area. In a cool climate (Region 1), it takes longer for the fog to burn off here than it does in the greater Santa Ynez Valley to the east. Generally 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Santa Ynez, this district also is caressed by cooling ocean breezes at mid-afternoon that help keep temperatures moderate on warm summer days. The climate and soil combination is particularly ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

With new vineyards currently being planted, a new barrel aging facility, and a renowned winemaker who will continue to make wine outside of the box, Babcock Winery and Vineyards promises to continue its tradition and reputation as one of the finest and most consistently reliable wine producers in California.

Babcock Winery and Vineyards
5175 E. Highway 246
Lompoc, Ca. 93436
(805) 736-1455
http://www.babcockwinery.com

From Foursight Wines

We've always said that every wine tells a story. The same can be said about every winery.

Foursight Wines is a small, family owned and operated winery in the cool, coastal region of Anderson Valley. Founded in 2007 by Bill and Nancy Charles - long-time winegrowers - together with daughter Kristy Charles and her fiancé Joseph Webb, we produce just a few hundred cases of estate-grown Pinot Noir and Anderson Valley Sauvignon Blanc each year.

Our name - Foursight Wines - signifies both the number of generations of our family to live and work on this one piece of land in Anderson Valley, and the aim of our efforts: to look forward and provide for the future generations of our family.

Each and every day you will find one of us working in the vineyard, tasting our wines, or tending to the day-to-day tasks of the business. We believe that good wine is made in the vineyard, and, in the best years, no intervention at all is needed to produce the highest-quality, small-lot wines.

We are a true family business, with many years of combined experience in winemaking, viticulture, wine marketing, wine public relations and wine sales. Each of us contributes something to the whole, and in return we get to live and work in this beautiful place while preserving a part of our family heritage.

In our location we can experience daily temperature swings of up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which adds to the rich flavors and strong acid profile of our grapes. Winters can be very wet, as the annual rainfall in Boonville averages 41.6 inches. Fortunately, our vineyard sits on an ancient river bend, which means our well-drained soils are suited to this annual moisture level. The modern-day version of this ancient river, called Anderson Creek, now borders our property on the east, separating us from the eastern foothills of the valley.

All vineyard work is done by our family, with help during pruning and harvest. On any given day you can find us in the vineyard, performing one of many tasks that keep our vineyard healthy and producing the best quality fruit possible. We practice what we like to call vine-by-vine viticulture: Spending so much time in the vineyard enables us to know the vines' particular needs and tend them accordingly, from adjusting compost levels to changing pruning techniques. We live on our land, and so farm our vineyard sustainably and responsibly, to ensure that the vineyard, and our family, is healthy and happy for years to come.

Foursight Wines
PO Box 523
Boonville, CA 95415
(707) 895-2889
http://www.foursightwines.com

From Amici Cellars

Amici, in Italian, is "Friends!" Amici's handcrafted, limited production wines are from Napa's most renowned grape growing areas. Our farming and winemaking methods allow the characteristics of soil and climate to speak through each individual wine.

Amici was born out of a belief that good wine and good friends make natural partners. In 1991, Jeff Hansen and a group of friends from all over the country crushed a few tons of grapes in the Napa Valley for their personal cellars. The resulting wines received such outstanding accolades that Hansen and the group started producing wine the very next year to share with the public. In the 16 vintages since the inception of Amici Cellars, our wines have gained stature as some of the finest reds in America. Because our concern is quality, not quantity, our wines are hand crafted and highly allocated.

The success of Amici can be summed up in one word: passion. Passion is the primary ingredient of any artistic endeavor, and the art of great winemaking is no different. We at Amici share a taste for quality, and are truly passionate about creating great red wines. To do that, we marry the most advanced viticulture practices with skills and knowledge passed down through countless generations of winemakers and vineyard owners.

By tradition, the best winemakers charge themselves with making a wine that tells its own story: one that speaks of the rich, volcanic soil it grew in, the March rains that nourished the vines and the warm Napa Valley sun that ripened the grapes to perfection. That's why Amici lives with the grapes, and nurtures the vines to create the finest hand crafted wines. Our wines truly reflect the vineyards from which they come.

At Amici our true passion is to produce spectacular reds. And our friends who enjoy wine as much as we do, recognize our attention to detail. We invite friends old and new to share our particular brand of "bottled poetry." Taste our passion -- and our joy of life.

Amici Cellars
PO Box 399
Rutherford, Ca. 94573
(707) 967-9560
http://www.amicicellars.com

From Alpha Omega Winery

Alpha Omega Winery, located in the heart of Napa Valley, on the Rutherford Bench, has begun its journey to be recognized as one of the great wine estates in the world.

Our team of winemakers, who share a history of winemaking excellence, along with our highly regarded vineyards, combine to create a unique expression of the essence of Napa Valley.

Alpha Omega has been fortunate to acquire highly sought after vineyards in the unique appellations of Napa Valley: Spring Mountain, St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Atlas Peak, Oak Knoll, Wild Horse Valley and Carneros, including the historically well known To Kalon, Stagecoach and Hudson vineyards.

Aside from the vineyards on the Alpha Omega winery property, the winemakers strongly believe in sourcing grapes from terroirs representing different appellations in Napa Valley in order to bring a completely different complexity and aromatic profile to their wines.

Alpha Omega Winery
1155 Mee Lane at Hwy 29
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 963-9999
http://www.aowinery.com

Dolcetto is a black wine grape variety. The name means "little sweet one," though it is nearly always a dry wine. Dolcetto wines can be tannic and fruit driven with moderate levels of acidity. They are typically meant to be consumed one to two years after release but can be consumed immeaditly.

Dolcetto wines are known for black cherry and licorice flavors with some prunes and a characteristically bitter finish reminiscent of almonds. While relatively high in residual sugars the wines are normally always dry. The tannic nature of the grape contributes to a characteristic bitter finish. The dark purple skin of Dolcetto grapes have high amounts of anthocyanins in them which require only a short maceration time with the skin to produce a dark colored wine. The amount of skin contact affects the resulting tannin levels in the wine with most winemakers preferring to limit maceration time to as short as possible. During fermentation the wine is prone to the wine fault of reduction.

Dolcetto is a fruit driven wine with aromas of ripe blackberries and red plums. A direct, Zinfandel-like fruitiness combined with Merlot-like soft tannins make Dolcetto charmingly seductive. While often compared to Beaujolais Nouveau, Dolcetto tends to have a fuller body with more complex taste.