Ah, the Pacific Coast! It’s a place of almost otherworldly beauty, where my thoughts drift to daydreaming about clusters of grapes as I drive down the winding roads. The dense fog, the ocean, the salty breeze, all of these are elements which impact the vibrancy, minerality, and precision of this Sonoma Coast wine.

I have been waiting for a while, to produce a blend with Sonoma Coast fruit that would capture the essence of the cooling influence of the ocean proximity, revealing complexity, acidity, minerality and longevity. Chardonnay is a special varietal. It seduces with its complex array of flavors and texture. This wine evokes pure lemon meringue pie with intense acidity and a long, persistent finish.

Our Cuvée Number Five is composed of different vineyards influenced by the cooling effect of the coastal fog and multiple clones.

BIBIANA GONZÁLEZ RAVE

I grew up in a country where vineyards are virtually non-existent. My exposure to wine was limited only to rare occasions at the dinner table. A few sips occasionally stolen from my father’s wine glass were enough to inspire an all-consuming dream—to become a winemaker. So I packed my bags and left for France. And in that moment I set the course of my life, a never-ending journey pursuing inspirational wines. During the summer of 2001, I immersed myself in all things wine, ultimately earning a BTS degree in Viticulture and Enology from Cognac followed by a degree in Enology from the University of Bordeaux, graduating with honors.

Driven by the tenacity which first took me to France, I pruned vines during ice-cold winters, trimmed shoots in sweltering summers, and tended to the vines that cling to the sheer slopes of Côte-Rôtie—first at Domaine Stéphane Ogier, then at Domaine Clusel-Roch. At the famed estates of Château Haut-Brion & La Mission Haut-Brion, I completed research for my thesis. This hard work paid off – I had the privilege to work among other family-owned wine producers in Burgundy, Alsace, and Cognac. My passion for wine whisked me around the globe, sending me between California, South Africa, and France for several years before I decided to call California my home.

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