Happy holidays from the Russian River Valley! As our milestone 35th anniversary draws to a close and the holidays approach, it is a wonderful time to reflect on the year that was, and the promising one ahead. In the world of wine, every vintage brings new experiences and new opportunities, and that was certainly the case in 2022. Here at MacRostie, the big news was the unveiling of our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard in the acclaimed Petaluma Gap AVA.

Located near the famed Gap’s Crown Vineyard, Nightwing reaches heights of 1,400 feet and was planted as a mosaic of 35 blocks, with 44 acres of Pinot Noir and 30 acres of Chardonnay. While designing Nightwing, which features a wonderful diversity of elevations, exposures, and soils, Steve MacRostie and I were able to select all of our favorite clones and rootstocks. I am a huge fan of the Petaluma Gap AVA, and being able to design and plant an estate vineyard from the ground up in the region was one of the highlights of my career.

Many of you were able to join me at our party at the Nightwing Vineyard, where we had a live band, delicious food, and large-format wines. It was a wonderful way to christen the vineyard, and I can still remember standing with guests as we watched the fog roll in through the Petaluma Gap. During the party, we shared our debut 2020 Nightwing Vineyard Chardonnay, which was a big hit! For those who haven’t already added this inaugural wine to your collection, I’m excited to share the news that it just received 94 points from Wine Enthusiast, which hailed it as “a great achievement.”

As we look to 2023, we have several exciting new releases planned, including our debut Nightwing Vineyard Pinot Noir, our first-ever Blanc de Blancs, and Blanc de Noirs sparkling wines, and a new vineyard-designate Pinot Noir from the famed Fiddlestix Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills. I am also really excited about our new Clockwise Zinfandel from the legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard. If Zinfandel vineyards were classified as Grand Cru sites, the historic Monte Rosso Vineyard in the Moon Mountain AVA would be one of them. First planted in the 1880s, it is without question one of the world’s great Zin vineyards.

In closing, I want to thank our wonderful club members and customers for another fantastic year. Your patronage and support is a constant source of inspiration as we strive to craft wines that stir the senses and satisfy the soul.

May your holidays be filled with joyful gatherings and delightful wines!

Warmest wishes,

 

Heidi Bridenhagen
MacRostie Winemaker

Dear Friends,

When I joined MacRostie in 2011, we had just seven employees and no Estate House. Back then, Steve and Thale MacRostie would host our team at their home for an annual pre-harvest celebration. Meals always began with a glass of sparkling wine on their patio followed by an intimate seated tasting, and no visit was complete without a tour of Thale’s beautiful garden! The MacRosties made us feel like a member of their family or a dear friend visiting from far away. When we designed the Estate House, we wanted to emulate what Steve and Thale did so flawlessly, including greeting guests with a glass of wine and providing beautiful spaces for people to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

This month marks ten years since we unveiled our stunning Estate House. I remember the excitement when we broke ground, the pride we all felt as we welcomed our first guests, and countless wonderful memories from events over the years. The Estate House changed everything for MacRostie. It gave us our Thale’s Estate Vineyard and a new small-lot winery exclusively for Pinot Noir. Most importantly, it gave us a home to share with our growing community. It made MacRostie more than a name on a label; it became us a place where wine lovers could come and explore our wines and share their passion with like-minded wine enthusiasts.

Thank you for a wonderful decade, and for making the Estate House your home away from home in wine country.

Best Wishes,

HEIDI BRIDENHAGEN

Winemaker – MacRostie Winery and Vineyards

As the festive season draws near and the promise of a New Year beckons, all of us at MacRostie are eagerly looking forward to the holidays ahead. Like you, we will be joining with family and friends to share the joys of the season, preparing delectable feasts and uncorking special wines.

To help make your own holidays merry and bright, we’ve created a fantastic and festive assortment of the best holiday gift sets for 2024. Whether you’re looking for mixed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir gift sets, sparkling wine gifts, or the best wines to gift your team or your boss, we’re here to ensure that you have the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

To make gifting with us even more enticing, each gift set includes a MacRostie branded gift box, a complimentary Signature tasting for two (a $90 value!), a greeting card with a personalized message, and ground shipping included for each set. Whatever you’re looking for, we have the wine gift set for you and yours!

Crowning Achievement – The Loch & The Key Flagship Duo

• 2022 The Key Chardonnay
• 2022 The Loch Pinot Noir

If you are looking for the ultimate gift for wine lovers and collectors, look no further than our Crowning Achievement gift set featuring our coveted pinnacle wines—The Loch and The Key. Like all of the greatest wines, The Loch and The Key do more than delight the senses. They create moments that are as magical as they are memorable. This year, reward the wine lover in your life with these cellar-worthy treasures.

Celebrate and Sparkle – Sparkling Duo

• 2021 Blanc de Blancs
• 2021 Blanc de Noirs

Nearly 40% of all sparkling wines are enjoyed between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, and for good reason. Few things bring joy and good cheer like sparkling wine! Beautiful, ebullient, and expressive, our Celebrate & Sparkle Duo will help to bring that joyful, welcoming spirit bubbling forth at holiday celebrations. Ideal for friends, family, or corporate gifting, they’ll be thinking of you when the cork pops and the merriment begins.

Night Flight – Nightwing Vineyard Duo

• 2022 Nightwing Vineyard Chardonnay
• 2022 Nightwing Vineyard Pinot Noir

From the tantalizing layers of Honeycrisp apple, tropical fruit, gardenia, and sweet baking spices that define our Nightwing Chardonnay to the soaring blackberry, plum and exotic spice flavors of our Nightwing Pinot Noir, these food-friendly wines are perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner, or for any wine enthusiast who loves terroir-driven wines.

Mini but Mighty – Half-Bottle Six Pack

• Three Bottles – 2021 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 375 ml
• Three Bottles – 2021 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 375 ml

Always one of our most popular wine gift sets, not only do our Mighty Minis make the best stocking stuffers, but with half-bottles of these delicious wines on hand, you’ll also be ready for any holiday gift-giving occasion. Our delightful half bottles also make great gifts for frequent travelers and are perfect for those evenings when you don’t want to open a whole bottle.

Radiant Reds

Radiant Reds – Clockwise Duo

• 2022 Clockwise Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel
• 2022 Clockwise Vivio Vineyard Syrah

Our Monte Rosso Zinfandel, grown on a historic 130-year-old vineyard, boasts rich, concentrated flavors of dark raspberry, black currant, and layers of baking spice. It perfectly complements our Vivio Vineyard Syrah, which grows in foggy Bennett Valley and yields elegant floral notes, powerful tannins, and lush blue and black fruit flavors. Bringing together two remarkable reds that epitomize the innovative spirit of Clockwise, this gift set will wow the red wine lovers in your life.

Gift Cards, Customizable Gift Sets, and Corporate Gifting

If you don’t know what kind of wines your giftee enjoys and can’t decide on a gift set, you can always send a MacRostie gift card. We offer both physical and digital gift cards in denominations of $50, $100, and $200 that can be redeemed at the MacRostie Estate House or online at MacRostiewinery.com.  We also offer customizable gift sets and concierge corporate gifting services. To learn more, or to speak with one of our group gifting concierges, email us at hospitality@macrostiewinery.com or give us a call at 707.473.9303.

On behalf of everyone at MacRostie, may the spirit of the season fill your home with grace, glad tidings, and extraordinary wines!

Holiday Gifting Shipping Deadlines:

Thanksgiving

• National Ground: Monday, November 18th
• CA Ground + 2-Day Air: Monday, November 25th

Christmas and Hanukkah

• National Ground: Monday, December 16th
• CA Ground + 2-Day Air: Wednesday, December 18th

New Years

• National Ground: Monday, December 23rd
• CA Ground + 2-Day Air: Thursday, December 26th