Bibiana González Rave Creates Unforgettable Moments With Alma de Cattleya Wines

One of my best loved portfolios of wines are from Alma de Cattleya, a well-priced brand produced by Owner and Winemaker Bibiana González Rave. Just recently, I received as samples four newly released wines: 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir ($25), 2023 Chardonnay ($30), 2022 Pinot Noir ($35), and 2023 Syrah ($30). All wines are from grapes cultivated in Sonoma vineyards and are meant to be “paired, shared, and enjoyed” to create unforgettable moments. Yes, please!

Someone You Must Know: Bibiana González Rave

“At the age of 14, Bibiana González Rave knew that she wanted to be a winemaker. Although she had little to no exposure to the wine world in her home country of Columbia, she knew that wine, considered by her family as a luxury, revealed an incredible amount of history and tradition. Bibiana was hooked. In Columbia, she studied chemical engineering and business after which she excelled in her studies of viticulture and oenology in Cognac, France. Her resume is extensive and lauded. She worked with some of the most highly regarded wineries in France and learned that “what you give to the land and your day-to-day dedication will always be present in the wines you craft.”

Bibiana’s first California vintage was 2004 and since then, she has worked harvest in South Africa and at a plethora of wineries in California. After a stint as winemaker at Lynmar Estate from 2009-2012, she started her own label Cattleya Wines, terroir driven, small production wines, along with Shared Notes , a joint venture with husband Jeff Pisoni. She’s also Consultant Winemaker for wineries in Sonoma and Napa Valley where her philosophy towards crafting outstanding wines is firmly in place.Cattleya wines is named after the national flower of Columbia, a fitting homage to Bibiana’s native home.

Alma de Cattleya, her latest endeavor, signifies the “soul of the land that gives life to her wines as well as her own soul put into each drop of wine that makes it to the bottle.” (Alma is the Spanish word for “soul.”)

Bibiana González Rave wants her wines to be accessible, affordable and, of utmost importance, to be shared and enjoyed with friends and family. With each sip, these wines embrace the soul of her California home with its vineyards, orchards and farms and the love for her homeland and those who are important to her there. For more inspiration, check out her website here.” Quote is from my article, The Wines of Jeff Pisoni and Bibiana Gonzalez Rave Reflect Heritage and Soul

Photo Credit: Alma de Cattleya

New Releases from Alma de Cattleya

With three decades of winemaking experience, Bibiana González Rave continues to produce outstanding wines. When paired with food and friends, each wine becomes unforgettable. The following new releases prove that point.

2024 Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir is from grapes sourced from Carneros and Sonoma Coast AVAs. Aged in neutral French oak barrels for five months before bottling, this wine, bright rose petal pink in color, exuded aromas of red florals, raspberry, and fresh melon. Vibrant acidity and minerality, dominant on the palate, offered soft notes of mint, herbs and crushed red fruit. We sipped this mouthwatering Rosé with goat cheese drizzled with a scant amount of honey.

Aged for only nine months in neutral French oak barrels, 2023 Chardonnay was a delight so swirl and sip. From cool climate sites between the Russian River Valley AVA and the Sonoma Coast, the wine was a luscious balance of acidity, softness and complexity. After a few swirls, notes of orange zest, yellow flowers, and golden apple wafted from the glass. The palate was rife with more bright citrus, racy acidity and a lingering finish. The flavors of both Chardonnay and roasted chicken with vegetables were elevated. And the conversation flowed…

Pinot Noir is always a favorite with my friends and family, so it was no surprise that 2023 Pinot Noir was sipped with much appreciation. The vast majority of grapes were sourced from the Russian River Valley, but sites close to the Pacific Ocean provided grapes, too. A brilliant ruby red in the glass, I found aromas of black cherries, dark plums and a dash of spice. The palate, on a foundation of food friendly acidity and soft tannic structure, suggested flavors of spice, oak and dried red fruit. We paired the Pinot Noir, aged for nine months in neutral French oak, with eggplant parmesan – just wow!

The Northern Rhône inspired 2023 Syrah was a bold, exceptional wine with fruit sourced from gently sloped parcels along the Pacific Ocean coast in the Sonoma County AVA. Aged for ten months in neutral French oak barrels, the wine was a deep garnet color. On the nose, I discovered aromas of purple florals, jasmine flowers and hint of leather leading to flavors of anise, crushed black fruit compote, baking spice and cedar. Balanced with structured tannins and moderate acidity, this was the perfect choice for an evening of friends, laughter and juicy burgers still sizzling from the grill. Unforgettable!