Six Figures White Wine Sonoma Valley 2021

In a wine world that at times can be overwhelmingly ostentatious, the crew from Six Figures is a breath of fresh air. Six friends from every facet of the industry came together, over many “backyard bottles,” to craft wines with dedication and precision without much pretense. As a cornerstone of their label, the “six figures” commit to never taking themselves too seriously while always putting forth wines that are as tasty as they are accessible. Their debut 2021 white wine blend is a culmination of their expertise and collective passion.

Winemaker Rande Feldman makes up one-sixth of the Six Figures crew, leading the charge for crafting these delectable wines. His name may sound familiar as he is one of Sonoma’s up-and-coming winemakers, with his other label Source & Sink, and his day job as Grower Relations Manager for Las Jaras Wines. A native Chicagoan, Rande fell in love with Sonoma Valley and its historic vineyards. His vineyard management work made him a champion for this often under-estimated region and its grape-growing potential. Rande’s connections link Six Figures to the best sites in Sonoma, and his hands-off approach to winemaking melds beautifully with the fruit of these heritage vineyards, allowing the terroir to speak for itself.

Sourced from the sustainably farmed Benguerel Vineyard in south-eastern Sonoma, the Six Figures White Wine boasts a unique, half-and-half blend of Semillon and Grenache Blanc.  Rande not only makes this wine but manages the vineyard site.  He oversaw the recent re-grafting of these grapevines with old-vine clippings from Monte Rosso Vineyard and Rossi Ranch.  After an early morning hand harvest, the fruit was foot tread and macerated on skins for 18 hours.  After a whole-cluster pressing, the juice settled in stainless steel tanks for a couple of days before transferring to neutral oak barrels for primary indigenous fermentation.  Rande used California amphora for malolactic fermentation and the following 5-month aging process.  For the clay amphora, the team sources from a local potter who uses Sonoma clays to mold the vessels.  This white blend maintains a lively acidity; it showcases Semillon’s zesty and ripe citrus side with the weighty, fuller body of the Grenache Blanc.  Sweet notes of honeysuckle, fresh mango, and savory dill bring you in with flavors of lime zest, yellow peach, and grapefruit on the palate.  We recommend pairing this wine with a rich, black cod filet or tuna steak if seafood is on the menu.  More of a meat eater?  Open a bottle of the Six Figures White Wine alongside pork chops right off the grill and savor this delicious debut.