Vineyard 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 nighttime temperatures of this unique geographical area lend distinctive regional identity to our wines. Growing Season
Growing Season
The 2024 growing season in Napa Valley was a beautiful reminder of why we cherish this region. Winter rains were generous enough to fully saturate the soil without pushing yields too high, striking the perfect balance for quality. Summer brought its share of warmth, but Carneros’ signature fog and coastal breezes arrived each evening like clockwork, offering the vines a much-needed nightly reset. Harvest kicked off in early September and rolled steadily over five weeks, allowing for even, unhurried ripening. The wines from this vintage show vibrant natural acidity, remarkable balance, and a depth of flavor that reflects the character of this special year.
Vinification
Vin Gris is a French term for a pale pink wine made from Pinot Noir grapes. Our Vin Gris is 85% whole cluster pressed and 15% saignée. We harvested clusters at low sugars and put them directly in a press, just like we would with our Chardonnay. We then fermented the juice in tank to preserve the freshness and aromatics. The saignée portion of the blend was “bled” from tank (saignée is a French term meaning “to bleed”) on the second day after crushing Pinot Noir grapes. This concentrates the juice on the skins for our lush Pinot Noir and gives us a bit of light, lively juice to use for our Vin Gris. The wine sees no oak contact, preserving the vivid aromatics for your sipping pleasure!
Tasting Notes
This fun and vibrant wine grabs your palate and does not let go. The nose draws you in with fresh picked strawberry, juicy watermelon and guava, while the palate displays layers of white nectarine, cantaloupe and more melon. It screams for warm days on the deck and time with friends. Goes with everything from oysters to grilled seafood to warm Saturday afternoons - enjoy!
