At the Winery
Why are grapes intended for sparkling wine harvested earlier than those used for still wines? It all comes down to achieving the ideal balance of freshness, flavor, and acidity. As grapes ripen, their sugar levels rise while their natural acidity gradually softens. For sparkling wine, we are looking for fruit with bright acidity, delicate flavors, and lower sugar levels. These are essential building blocks of a vibrant, refreshing sparkling wine with energy and finesse. Harvesting the Pinot Noir early allows us to capture its crispness, creating a beautifully balanced foundation for the finished product.
Grapes intended for still wines, by comparison, typically remain on the vine longer. This additional ripening time encourages deeper color, fuller flavors, softer tannins, and greater concentration. Every vineyard and grape has its own perfect moment for harvest, and identifying that moment is one of the most important decisions our winemaking team makes each season. We look forward to bringing you more updates throughout the harvest season.
New Releases This Month
2025 Sparkling Albariño
Albariño is a delightfully refreshing coastal white and somewhat rare in California. Grown in the Petaluma Gap AVA where vineyards are tucked into valleys and scattered on hillsides in perfect harmony with the area’s rural open space and rich agricultural history. We were lucky to produce a small amount of still wine using this varietal for the past few vintages, and it has proven to be a favorite within our white wine portfolio.
In 2025, we made our second vintage of sparkling Albariño using the Charmat method, or metodo Italiano. In this method, we add yeast and sugar to the base wine, and secondary fermentation happens in tank under pressure. The yeast converts the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, which creates bubbles in the wine. This process usually takes a few weeks, preserving the freshness of the fruit flavors and producing a light and vibrant sparkling wine.
“Crisp on the nose with notes of orange blossom and stone fruit. On the palate white nectarine, peach, Bosc pear, and kumquat lead to a refreshing finish with a hint of salinity”
2024 Frediani Vineyard Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah originated in France, where it is known as Durif, but found an ideal home in California’s warmer growing regions. Despite its name, there is nothing particularly petite about the wine. The name refers to the grape’s compact berries, which create a high ratio of skin to juice and produce wines with deep color, concentrated dark fruit, firm tannins, and exceptional aging potential. In Calistoga, the varietal develops generous richness and intensity while maintaining freshness, balance, and structure.
Our Petite Sirah comes from the historic Frediani Vineyard in northeastern Napa Valley, where the Frediani family has farmed for three generations. Located near the base of the Palisades, the vineyard features a diverse mix of well-draining gravel and moisture-retaining clay soils. Combined with Calistoga’s warm days and cool, foggy nights, these conditions produce fruit with remarkable color, depth, and texture. The result is a bold yet balanced expression of both the varietal and one of Napa Valley’s most distinctive vineyard sites.
“There is an expressive bouquet of blackberry, blueberry compote, and black plum, layered with notes of violet, graphite, and warm baking spice. Rich and concentrated on the palate, the wine delivers generous dark fruit framed by firm, finely textured tannins and a vibrant thread of acidity. Subtle notes of cocoa, espresso, and crushed stone add depth, leading to a long and structured finish.”
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