Refreshing on a warm day, what’s not to love about a crisp Albariño, a mineral driven Sauvignon Blanc, or a snappy Pinot Grigio? But don’t forget about delicious red wines that will pair with any summertime activity. Recently, I had the opportunity to taste three red wines sent as samples from Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, learn from Rebecka Deike, Assistant Winemaker, and share thoughts with wine blogger colleagues during a Twitter tasting. Move over, summer whites…make room for these Ferrari-Carano reds on the table!
Located on Dry Creek Valley Road in Healdsburg, California, Ferrari-Carano was founded by Don and Rhonda Carano in 1981 with grapes from a small, 30 acre plot. It now encompasses 24 estate vineyards in five appellations totaling 1700 acres in Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino Counties where sustainable farming practices, labor intensive strategies, and “grape source and terroir are emphasized”. Just this year, Ferrari- Carano was recognized by the CSWA as a 100% Certified California Sustainable Vineyard. Brands include Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma, Lazy Creek Vineyards in Mendocino, three wine production facilities, the Vintner’s Inn and John Ash & Co. Restaurant in Santa Rosa, and Seasons of the Vineyard Tasting Bar & Boutique in Healdsburg.
Just as approachable as the wines we tasted,
Assistant Winemaker Rebecka Deicke shared her story. With a bachelor’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology, she decided to switch careers from microbiology to winemaking. Rebecka joined
Ferrari-Carano in 2004 as Enologist after having entered the winemaking world in 2000 as an intern, lab technician, and Assistant Enologist at
Jordan. After two years at Ferrari-Carano, she was promoted to her current position and supervises the red wines program, including the PreVail wines and the Mountain Winery production facility in Alexander Valley. Rebecka shared that she enjoys combining science and art in her winemaking and “loves the seasonal experiences and the connection between seeing the vines develop in the vineyards, the grapes ripening, and witnessing the transformation of grapes into wine.”
Anxious to swirl, sip, and savor, we opened the 2013 Ferrari-Carano Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley where warm days and cool nights are the norm. I found intense aromas of dark cherries, raspberries, and a twang of white pepper on the nose. Fresh and fruit driven with notes of cinnamon, spice, and red flowers, this rich wine was lifted up by bright acidity and satisfied us all with toasty notes on its lingering finish. You could easily pair this Pinot Noir with vegetarian dishes, salmon, chicken, grilled meats, or beef stew on a breezy summer night. Cost is $30.60.
After tasting the
2012 Ferrari-Carano Siena from Sonoma County, you’ll have to agree that this will be a luscious pairing with rich and delicious Italian fare while dining al fresco. The Siena is a blend of predominantly Sangiovese along with Malbec, Petit Sirah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in 20% new Hungarian puncheon and 80% older French oak, beautiful aromas of blackberries, cocoa, and strawberries led to intense tastes of ripe cherries, earth, vanilla, and spice. Robust with plenty of depth, I appreciated the integrated tannins and smooth, lasting finish. Cost is $23.
Zinfandel in the summer? Absolutely! The
2012 Ferrari-Carano Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley is 97% Zinfandel and 3% Petit Sirah. Aromas of blackberries, juicy plums, and boysenberry leapt from the glass. On the palate, powerful notes of toasty caramel, maple, white pepper, warm spice, chocolate and layers upon layers of dark jammy fruit flavors dominated. The finish on the Zinfandel was extra special…think of tasting the top of a crème brulèe and you’ll know what I mean! So food friendly, this Zinfandel will easily pair with any meat dishes you’ll want to serve, spicy charcuterie, hard cheeses, and even a decadent triple chocolate cake! Cost is $28.
With three more reasons to enjoy summer, you may want to open these Ferrari-Carano reds as soon as possible and make every moment linger!
Cheers! ~ Cindy
