Brannan Wines Charbono Calistoga 2021

The inspiration behind the debut brand, Brannan Wines, harkens back to Sam Brannan, a legendary figure often dubbed the instigator of California's Gold Rush and the state's first millionaire. Sam was an affluent entrepreneur and a visionary who played a pivotal role in much of Calistoga's history and viticultural prowess. He was the first person to plant grapevines in this idyllic sub-AVA of Napa Valley and encouraged tourism by creating his Hot Springs Resort and installing the Napa Valley Railroad. The co-founders of Brannan Wines, Seth Cripe, and Carl Dene, thought no one better embodied the pioneering California spirit at the heart of their Calistoga-based brand. 

After years of friendship and musings, the pair partnered to create a wine brand to honor the storied Napa Valley history, specifically its northernmost AVA. As fiercely loyal Calistoga locals, Seth and Carl focus heavily on showcasing the acclaimed terroir of the "Crown of Napa Valley" by sourcing solely from Calistoga vineyards for their five wines. Seth knows Napa like the back of his hand, having studied as an "apprentice" under famed legends like Clark Swanson of Swanson Vineyards and Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards, and now as the owner/winemaker of LOLA Wines. Despite not relocating to Calistoga until 2021, Carl is no stranger to Napa, having traveled for years from Southern California on multiple trips and slowly falling in love with our cherished valley. Carl's avid hospitality acumen as the owner/operator of Brannan Cottage Inn and Sam's General Store, along with Seth's acclaimed winemaking style, is perfectly matched for this new venture. 

Charbono is a unique varietal, and California and Argentina (where it is called Bonarda) are the biggest producers. It originated from the Savoie region of France, with recorded plantings dating back to the early 1800s. Yet, some historians suggest that Etruscans planted the varietal as far back as 3,000 years ago. Many of California's Charbono vines are planted in Calistoga (40 acres of the 70 total statewide). For the 2021 Heritage Charbono, Seth & Carl sourced grapes from the old Summers Estate property (now owned by Brasswood.). Charbono played a significant role in the history of this vineyard, with the original proprietor, Jim Summers, nicknamed "Mr. Charbono." He championed the varietal after rehabilitating the 60 to 85-year-old vines and planting more. Charbono was Summers Estate's flagship wine, and Jim's efforts resulted in his vineyard becoming the largest Charbono vineyard in the world with its whopping 14 acres.  

The older age of the vines, in combination with the dry-farming techniques used in the vineyard, causes intense concentration in the berries and an impactful flavor profile. After harvest and fermentation, the wine aged in neutral oak barrels and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Aromas lean toward darker blue and black fruits, with notes of brambly blackberry, wild blueberry, and fresh plum that stay present in the flavors. This Charbono is a lovely balance of medium plus acid with well-structured tannins across the palate, creating a fantastic food wine with the potential to age for many years. The 2021 Heritage Charbono metaphorically honors the Brannan Wines mission to celebrate Napa's northernmost sub-AVA.