Orixe Sotelo Soto Godello Sonoma Valley 2023

One of the most intriguing aspects of wine is its ability to link us to the past, entice us into the present, and point us to the future. At Orixe Sotelo, making wine is about honoring how vines flourished in California and expanding that deeply rooted wine culture through the "lens" of Spanish grape varietals.

After a short stint in publishing, winemaker Gustavo Sotelo dove headfirst into the world of wine. He worked all aspects of viticulture, hospitality, and the cellar at Etude, Mumm, and White Rock Vineyards (to name a few) while simultaneously earning his second Bachelor's degree from UC Davis in Viticulture & Enology. He joined the uber-hip team at SCRIBE in 2015, where he is the Associate Winemaker & Director of Operations. While Gustavo earned his chops in the wine world, his wife, Jackie Sotelo, worked as a Senior Marketing Manager for an urban development and planning company in San Francisco. Though Jackie's career did not directly interface with wine, she sought it out whenever possible. While traveling and collaborating with small wineries and restaurants in her development projects, she drank and tasted through all she could. Gustavo & Jackie met in San Francisco, and their relationship blossomed as fate would have it. Gustavo's inspirational time as a harvest intern with Bodegas Mauro in Ribera del Duero was a pivotal experience for him and, in his sharing of the story, for Jackie as well. During this time, Gustavo connected to his familial roots in Northern Spain. He absorbed the stories and knowledge of the region's winemakers and developed an appreciation for the delicious complexity of its traditional grapes. Both embraced their heritage and the history that shaped Orixe Sotelo's vision, in which Gustavo and Jackie explored the vast potential for Spanish varietals in California.

Like Albariño years back, the Godello grape is experiencing a renaissance in its traditional Spanish region of Valdeorras and here in California. It is known for its versatility and, therefore, is a winemaker's playground when it comes to style. Godello wines can be lean and bright or blended with other varietals to create depth and texture. This 100% Godello hails from the Birdland Vineyard at the base of Sonoma Mountain, where vineyard owner Michael Havens planted the first acre of Godello in all of California. After harvest and a gentle crush, the fruit briefly rested on the skins before pressing and fermenting in a 500-liter puncheon. Once native fermentation was complete, the wine aged on the lees for 10 months before bottling. Gustavo notes that the "Soto has aromas of grapefruit peel, seashell and apricots. On the palate, the wine shows a seamless mouthfeel, verve, and a long finish of green pear and beeswax."