philosophy
Adventerous wines from places with untold stories…
Our goal is to produce wines that express a clear sense of place, with freshness and complexity. Focused on high-elevation vineyards from El Dorado County, we craft small-lot wines made with love and a light touch in Napa. Our wines are fermented whole cluster with native yeast, aged in neutral oak or stainless steel barrels, and bottled unfined / unfiltered with minimal sulfur.
Serious wines made by people who don’t take themselves too seriously.
2023 ‘Chasing the Sunset’ Rosé
Inspired by the South African tradition of sundowners, a moment to pause and reflect on the beauty around you as the sun slips beneath the horizon.
technical info:
2 barrels made
50% Mourvèdre | 26% Cinsault | 24% Grenache
100% whole cluster, 26% foot stomped
Native yeast fermented, Aged for 5 months sur lees
100% stainless steel barrels
Bottled unfined & unfiltered
2023 ‘Sunshower’ Carbonic Red
Inspired by the natural phenomenon when it rains while the sun is shining, often when the atmosphere is unstable. Find beauty in the moments that challenge you.
technical info:
3 barrels made
50% Mourvèdre | 23% Gamay | 14% Cinsault | 13% Grenache
100% whole cluster, 7 day carbonic maceration
Direct to press, native yeast fermented
Aged for 5 months
100% neutral french oak
Bottled unfined & unfiltered
2022 ‘Grand Prismatic’ Carbonic White
This label showcases a different experimental wine each year. The second release is one barrel of Carbonic Vermentino, and our first ever white wine from the 2022 vintage.
technical info:
1 barrel made
100% Vermentino
100% whole cluster, 7 day carbonic maceration
Native yeast fermented
Aged for 5 months
100% neutral french oak
Bottled unfined & unfiltered
2022 SLO Coast Mourvèdre
Inspired by our honeymoon in Cassis and taking a leap of faith by venturing into a new region. A distinctly maritime expression of Mourvèdre anchored in the ancient, uplifted seabed soils of Arroyo Grande Valley.
technical info:
1 barrel made
100% Mourvèdre
100% whole cluster, foot stomped
Native yeast fermented
Aged for 9 months
100% neutral french oak
Bottled unfined & unfiltered
2019 El Dorado County Mourvèdre
Inspired by our first date wine back in 2011. Mourvèdre shines in the volcanic and granitic soils of this high elevation region, surrounded by Ponderosa Pines and manzanita. Whole cluster fermentation and extended maceration showcase its full potential.
technical info:
10 barrels made
90% Mourvèdre | 10% Syrah
75% whole cluster, foot stomped
Aged for 9 months
100 % neutral french oak
Bottled unfined & unfiltered
our labels
designed by Rohan Etsebeth
Inspired by our field journals, our labels represent our love of the outdoors and drinking wine in the wilderness.
They honor Bertus’ South African roots with a Protea (the national flower), and highlight the region of El Dorado County where our two great joys, the Mountains + the Vineyards, come together.
We hope it inspires you to go out and do what you love, always with a bottle of wine in tow.
Rohan resides in Stellenbosch, South Africa (where Bertus met him in college) and has his own graphic design firm.
REGION +
GROWERS
mountains. vineyards. adventure.
el dorado county
With a storied history full of pioneers looking to strike it rich and those who kept them well hydrated, El Dorado County embodied everything the “wild west” was known for, and in many ways it still does. The first vines were planted in 1849 and a thriving wine industry reached its peak in 1904 with 2000 acres of vineyards. After the gold rush went bust, and prohibition went into effect, people started fleeing the area for city life and the wine industry all but vanished. Lucky for us, a new wave of pioneers ventured back to the area in the 1970’s determined to unearth the potential of the land.
regional facts
01.
elevation
Vines are planted between 1,200 - 3,200 ft, which creates numerous microclimates
02.
climate
Cooled by elevation, thermal updrafts pulled from the west in the AM and cool downdrafts in the PM
03.
soil
With an abundance of Volcanic + Granitic soils, wines of intensity and finesse are produced
04.
waterways
Surrounded by rivers and lakes, the county is carved by powerful bodies of water
Ron + Chuck | Goldbud Vineyard | January 2019
our growers
ron and chuck mansfield
One moment you may find yourself discussing the nuances of the various soil types in the area and the next you pivot to talking about the aging potential of Bandol rosé. Then suddenly, you are eating the most incredible peach of your life. The Mansfields are a rare breed. They are the embodiment of Foothills hospitality, while acting as true stewards of the land.
In 1978 Ron settled in El Dorado County to work on an irrigation study. Through this study he gained a wealth of knowledge about the various micro climates and soil types in the area. By the time it finished he had fallen in love with the region and made the transition to managing tree fruit and vineyards. Since the 1980’s, he has always put quality first, whether it be cherries, Fuji apples, wine grapes or peaches from his Goldbud property.
A few years ago his son, Chuck, joined the family business after working as a winemaker in Sonoma County. We truly appreciate Chuck’s depth of experience and his commitment to a shared goal of producing a wine that conveys a sense of place.
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