"Zepponi has worked at Beringer, Foster's Wine Estate, Mark Anthony (in Okanagan BC, where Mike's Hard Lemonade and White Claw originated), among others, and took over Cuvaison and sister brand Brandlin Estate nine years ago. He's been replanting vigorously to replace pinot noir that contracted a virus and to add the Sancerre clone of sauvignon blanc, which makes their 2023 Brandlin Estate SB from Mt. Veeder such a gem."
"Steve Rogstad, who's been Cuvaison's winemaker since 2002, make it in specially treated cigar-shaped barrels that are steam bent to eschew the toasty caramel of the 50% new wood. Everyone has chardonnay, but this sauv blanc is in the perfect spot to get ripe enough to avoid pyrazines while maintaining just enough acid, Zepponi said. We actually pick it after our pinot noir."
Cuvaison focuses on classic pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling wines while expanding an albarino and a Sancerre-clone sauvignon blanc. Dan Zepponi grew up in the industry, worked at several major wineries, and acquired Cuvaison and Brandlin Estate nine years ago. He has been replanting vineyards to replace virus-affected pinot noir and to introduce the Sancerre clone that produced an acclaimed 2023 Brandlin Estate sauvignon blanc from Mt. Veeder. Winemaker Steve Rogstad, at Cuvaison since 2002, uses specially treated steam-bent cigar-shaped barrels to avoid heavy toasty flavors from new wood. Sauvignon blanc is picked later there to reach ripeness without pyrazines, and Cuvaison collaborates with Domaine Carneros on sparkling wines.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]