Month: September 2022

Beginning with the 2010 vintage, we made the pioneering decision to bottle our acclaimed Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs using twist-off caps. To our knowledge, we were the first Sonoma Coast winery to put all of our wines under twist-offs. Back then, some experts estimated the failure rate of wine corks to be as high as 10% to 15%. While the quality of many cork products has improved over the past 12 years, whether the failure rate due to cork taint, oxidation, or other cork-related faults is 2%, 5%, or more, there is no other industry selling luxury products that would accept the product failure rates that the wine industry accepts with cork closures.

The data is global, extensive, and conclusive. Twist-off closures deliver a consistent wine in every bottle. They also preserve the quality, craftsmanship, and terroir of the wines. The one argument that traditional cork supporters suggest is that twist-offs are not ideal for aging. However, now that pioneering countries like Australia and New Zealand have decades of wine under twist-offs, there is compelling evidence that they may even do a better job of preserving a wine’s freshness, purity of fruit, and nuance over years of aging.

“Corked wines afflicted with the musty, moldy, wet-basement smell ruin up to 15% of all wine.”

Robert Parker, in Food & Wine, 2015

The final argument against twist-offs is that customers don’t embrace them—that they aren’t romantic and don’t impart a sense of luxury. We live in a time when there is more information about what we eat and drink than ever. Consumers seek out quality and authenticity, and in this pursuit, they are willing to learn what they don’t know—especially when it comes to wine. Just as we, as winemakers, share with our customers the character of specific wine regions and the distinctive charm of special vineyards, it’s also our job to educate others on how best to preserve the quality and integrity of the wines we produce. Here are four facts every wine-lover should know about twist-off caps:

1. Under twist-offs there is no chance for cork-related TCA – a scientific term that means a wine is ‘corked’ or that it tastes musty.
2. Twist-off enclosed wines have dramatically reduced oxidation – oxygen is most often the enemy, not the friend, of wine.
3. Under twist-offs there is little-to-no bottle variation, whereas corks may have different permeability thresholds – our wines under twist-offs taste uniformly consistent from one bottle to the next.
4. Twist-off closures are far more resistant to temperature change during shipping.

“Corks versus screw caps? Using corks is a marketing decision. Using screw caps is a winemaking decision and a quality decision. We choose quality.”

Steve MacRostie

Over the past decade, one of the most interesting stories in the world of wine has been the rise in prominence of Sauvignon Blanc. From the aromatic, zesty, and citrus-driven Sauvignon Blancs of New Zealand to the lush and alluring expressions of the grape from Sonoma County, to the rise of California’s sophisticated and texturally driven “Super Sauvignons,” Sauvignon Blanc has emerged as one of America’s most popular wine grapes. In fact, based on data from Nielsen, Sauvignon Blanc represented 7.2% of total wine consumed in the US in 2023 and was the only wine varietal that grew by volume produced.

Sauvignon Blanc has a unique history. While most wine enthusiasts might think that Sauvignon Blanc originally hails from Bordeaux where it contributes to some of the region’s most sought-after white wines, the first mention of the grape seems to come from the Loire region of France in 1534. In fact, the first mention of Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux wasn’t until 1710, when it was referenced in Margaux. Based on modern DNA analysis, Sauvignon Blanc is a sibling to both Chenin Blanc and Trousseau. Even more interesting, Sauvignon Blanc along with Cabernet Franc are the parents of the world’s great red grape, Cabernet Sauvignon.

Today, Sauvignon Blanc is grown throughout the world from Sancerre and Pouilly in the Loire to the US, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, where it has quickly earned acclaim as a national treasure. In fact, despite not being planted in New Zealand until the 1970s, New Zealand is now the world’s top region for Sauvignon Blanc and is the source for almost half of all Sauvignon Blanc consumed in the US.

Depending on the climate in which it is grown and how yields are managed (it can be very vigorous), Sauvignon Blanc can express itself very differently. In New Zealand, where the temperatures rarely exceed 80º F, Sauvignon Blanc tends to be high in acidity and highly aromatic, with racy aromas and flavors of citrus and gooseberry. The wines are usually unoaked, which further underscores their sleek minerality. In Napa Valley, where the temperatures are much warmer, Sauvignon Blanc can take on a more rich and textural quality, with luxurious stone fruit and tropical notes emerging. The qualities can then be further enhanced with aging in oak, or the use of alternative fermentation vessels like concrete eggs, or even amphoras.

To craft our own 2023 Clockwise Sauvignon Blanc, Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen selected two exceptional vineyards in the Russian River Valley: Savona Vineyard, which is farmed by one of our long-time club members, and Hopkins Ranch. Warmer than New Zealand but cooler than Napa Valley, and with regular fog, the Russian River Valley offers a goldilocks climate for Sauvignon Blanc, providing ample ripening time, while staying cool enough to preserve the acidity that is so important for great Sauvignon Blanc. At Savona, which features very old vines, the range of flavors can go from tart and crisp to floral and rich. In contrast, the extremely low elevation, fog-influenced Hopkins Ranch produces incredibly aromatic and high-toned Sauvignon Blanc with intense fruit. Blended together, the result is a wine with aromas of fresh honeysuckle and jasmine, hints of baby grass and Key lime, and rich, mouth-filling flavors of golden apple and golden pear. Lush and tantalizing, our Clockwise Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc offers an elevated expression of the grape that is perfect for the warm spring and summer months.