Bouchaine’s 100-acre estate vineyard lies on the southern border of Napa Valley’s Carneros district, overlooking the San Francisco bay with the financial district in the distance. Fog, wind, and the cold night time temperatures of this unique geographical area lend a distinctive regional identity to our Pinot Meunier.

Growing Season
The growing season of 2022 will ultimately be defined by the 5-day heat wave we experienced in early September. Thankfully, our crop was ready to be harvested. The heat condensed the time frame of harvest and the winery filled up quickly. Prior to the heat, the growing season in Carneros was highlighted only by its cool breezes and morning fog. With all of these factors combined, Bouchaine was able to capture the fresh acidity we know and love, while also extracting velvety structure and depth of flavor in the wines.

Vinification
All fruit is hand-harvested at night, preserving berry integrity and cold temperatures. After a 7 day cold soak, fruit is natively fermented in opentop tanks. The wine is then drawn off, and the must is placed in a basket press for gentle pressing. All wines complete malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. The Meunier blocks are kept on primary lees until bottling to enhance complexity and allow for the finest expression of Carneros.