Wines

Enotria

Translates to the Land of Wine. This wine brings us even closer to our roots because it is dedicated to those varieties of grapes that Gregory Graziano’s grandfather grew in the Piemonte region of Italy and are still maintained by his cousins to this day.

These varieties, many of which were brought to America in suitcases, have adapted especially well in the cooler areas of Mendocino County. Lying above the fog and frost line in the sun, they enjoy even temperatures and an extended growing season. These are big broad-shouldered reds and contrastingly, delicate perfumed whites.

Varieties: Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, Arneis, and Moscato.

Monte Volpe

Italian grape varieties that were once an integral part of Mendocino viticulture are again drawing the attention of wineries here as well as other regions in the United States.

The wines we have made at Monte Volpe (which means Fox Mountain) since our first releases in 1991 are rich in color, fragrance, flavor and offer a great deal of finesse. Their structures are reminiscent of their Italian ancestry, but they display a vibrancy that is the hallmark of wines that are produced from fully ripened grapes.

The focus of this brand is on the classic red varieties of Tuscany and the supple white cultivars of Friuli and Campania, as well as our house blends.

Varieties: Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Negroamaro, Aglianico, Vermentino, Tocai Friulano, Coda di Volpe, Greco di Tufo, Ribolla Gialla, Fiano, Falanghina, Sangiovese Rosato.

Graziano

From the rich, red earth the Zinfandels of Mendocino’s Redwood Valley owe everything to the unique rust-colored slopes that bear outstandingly bold fruit.

It makes perfect sense that some of California’s most distinctive Zinfandels come from the Redwood Valley in southern Mendocino County. This is one of the state’s most distinctive viticultural enclaves, with a combination of climate and soils — particularly its deposits of the rare, rust-colored Redvine soil — that rightly may be called unique. There’s nothing else quite like it, anywhere.

Yet for many years these wonderful wines were only on the Zin fanatic’s radar, virtually unknown in the mainstream. Redwood Valley was only recently recognized as an American Viticultural Area (1996. It was the first place in Mendocino County to produce commercial wine grapes (in the 1850s), but it has never had more than a few wineries (eight at the moment). Even today, virtually all its crop (mostly Chardonnay) disappears into blends bottled by large North Coast wineries, so wine lovers seldom get a taste of the valley’s outstanding viticultural character.

However, a staunch group of Redwood Valley wineries have consistently bottled Zinfandels from the valley’s red-dirt slopes. It was largely on the strength of those wines that Redwood Valley finally became an AVA in 1996. Not a moment too soon. Because a characteristic Redwood Valley Zin is among the glories of California winedom, an archetypal expression of region and grape.

The Graziano label is about more than just Zinfandel. Redwood Valley is blessed with many small parcels of old-vine Petite Sirah, and the old-timers favorite Carignane,  which Greg’s Grandfather Vincenzo planted some 70-75 years ago in the vineyard that now bears his name. 

Varieties: Zinfandel, Carignane, Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Chenin Blanc.

Saint Gregory

The cooler Anderson, Redwood and Potter Valleys are ideal for the variable nature of the Pinot family cultivators.

We capitalize fully on the blending possibilities afforded by the distinct attributes and various clonal selections of Pinot Noir of each of the approved viticultural areas. We apply traditional Burgundian methods: a long fermentation in the barrel (always using French oak barrels), stirring the lees and malolactic conversions in our white wines.

For our red wines we begin with extended cold maceration and in most years practice the art of “saignée”: the bleeding off of 10% of the juice to intensify color and flavors.

Our cellar regime follows aging guidelines that give us rounded whites with firm acidity and fragrant red wines that are elegantly balanced.

Varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinotage, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir Rose, Sparkling.