Our Wines…

Below are the ultra-premium varietal wines that we produce at Bella Cavalli…both red and white. And with each wine we’ve added a little bit of its history so you will know where it all started from and generally what you can expect when you receive one of these vintages.

Our wines are available exclusively to members of our Vineyard Club »

Red Wines

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is one of the oldest grape varieties to be cultivated for the purpose of making wine. Ancient Romans knew this grape as Helvenacia Minor and vinified it as early as the first century AD. Pinot Noir creates a lasting impression on the palate and in the memory. Its aroma is often one of the most complex of all varietals and can be intense with a ripegrape or black cherry aroma, frequently accented by a pronounced spiciness that suggests cinnamon, sassafras, or mint. Ripe tomato, mushroom, and barnyard are also common descriptors for identifying Pinot Noir. It is full-bodied and rich but not heavy, high in alcohol, yet neither acidic nor tannic, with substantial flavor despite its delicacy. The most appealing quality of Pinot Noir may be its soft, velvety texture.

Syrah

More than half the world's total Syrah acreage is planted in France, but it is also a successful grape in Australia (called Shiraz or Hermitage), South Africa and California. Syrah is a fairly new variety in California, first introduced in 1971. Some of the state's vines were propagated from Hermitage and some from Australian cuttings. It is also one of California's most rapidly increasing varieties. In 1984, there were less than 100 acres. Syrah now accounts for 12,700 vineyard acres, almost half of which is less than three years old and not yet bearing fruit. Syrah forms intense wines, with deep violet, nearly black color, chewy texture and richness, and often alcoholic strength, with aromas that tend to be more spicy than fruity.

White Wines

Chardonnay
Estate Chardonnay

Rich is the word that best both describes Chardonnay and explains its popularity. Its aroma is distinct, yet delicate, difficult to characterize but easier to recognize. It often smells like apples, lemons, peaches or tropical fruits. Chardonnay is unmistakable in the mouth because of its impeccable sugar/acid balance, its full body, and its easy smoothness. The finest appellations for a California Chardonnay and their dominant flavors are: Russian River Valley, shared by Sonoma and Mendocino Counties (apples, pears and peaches); Carneros, shared by Sonoma and Napa Counties (flinty); Monterey County (citric, lemony); Santa Barbara County (pineapple, tropical); Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo County (apricot, fleshy).

Sauvignon Blanc

“It bangs in your mouth” goes an old description of Sauvignon Blanc. “It’s violent, it’s sharp, it bites and it cries.” and many still agree with this. In France this wine may be known as Petit Sauvignon and sometimes as Sauvignon Fume or Blanc Fume and is used widely in Bordeaux in blends. Grown early and extensively in New Zealand it was known for its own perfumed and fruity style that has now spread to North America and France. It is a popular alternative to Chardonnay employing barrel and malolactic fermentation and it pairs nicely with many dishes but particularly the seafoods and light tart pastas.

Estate Wines

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (upcoming release May 2013)

A well established and greatly respected varietal with an outstanding history in the Santa Ynez Valley and is also the most widely planted and significant grape in the Medoc district of France's famous Bordeaux region. Cabernet Sauvignon began to emerge as America's most popular varietal red wine in the mid-60s and by the late 1980s, it had replaced "burgundy" as a consumer's generic term for red wine. Typically, Cabernet Sauvignon wines have the aroma of black currants with a slight degree of bell pepper.

Estate Grenache 2010 (sold out)
Estate Grenache 2011 (upcoming release may 2013)

Grenache is the world's most widely planted grape used to make red wine and is probably most notable as the base varietal for Chateauneuf du Pape. In spite of its fame coming from French wines, Spain is most likely this grape's origin and nearly three times as much grenache is planted in Spain as in France. In the New World, Australia has extensive plantings of Grenache and has been very adept at making full-bodied Grenache-dominated red blends. Here is the United States, Grenache is gaining popularity as a varietal and the classic bouquet is that of black currant and blackberry.

Estate Tempranillo

Tempranillo is the primary red wine grape for much of Spain. It needs only a very short growing season and this early ripening tendency is the source of the name tempranillo, which translates to "little early one". Its aromas and flavors often combine elements of berryish fruit, herbaceousness, and an earthy-leathery minerality. Its wine is full bodied with intense flavors and gusto.

Estate Albarino

Albariño is the primary grape used to make dry white wine in Northwestern Spain and is considered by many to be Spain's premier quality white wine. Albariño is also known in Portugal as Alvarinho. Typically, wines made from Albariño are very aromatic, often described as having scents of almonds or almond paste, apples, peaches, citrus, and flowers or grass. Albariño wines are particularly suited to seafood due to their stimulating acidity.