philosophy
adventurous 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.
current releases
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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:
50% Mourvèdre | 26% Cinsault | 24% Grenache
Vineyards - Veerkamp, El Dorado County
Vineyard Elevation - 1750 Ft
Harvest Date - September 9th, 2023
Winemaking -100% Whole Cluster, 26% Foot Stomped, Native Yeast Fermented
Aging - 100% Stainless Steel
Bottling Date - February 23rd, 2024 (Bottled Unfined + Unfiltered)
Production - 2 Barrels
Alcohol % - 12.4
Label Notes:
Location - Chapman's Peak, Cape Town
Flower - Pincushion Protea
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Inspired By:
'Jakkels trou met wolf se vrou'
A natural phenomenon when it rains while the sun is shining, often when the atmosphere around you is unstable. Find beauty in the moments that challenge you.Technical Info:
50% Mourvèdre | 23% Gamay Noir | 14% Cinsault | 13% Grenache
Vineyards -Fenaughty, Futernick, Veerkamp, El Dorado County
Vineyard Elevation - 1750 - 2860 Ft.
Harvest Date - Sept 9 + 16, Oct 11 2023
Winemaking -100% Whole Cluster, 7 Day Carbonic Maceration, Direct to Press, Native Yeast Fermented
Aging - 100% Neutral French Oak
Bottling Date - February 23rd, 2024 (Bottled Unfined + Unfiltered)
Production - 3 Barrels
Alcohol % - 13.1
Label Notes:
Location - Eagle Rock, Lake Tahoe
Flower - Disa
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Inspired by:
Alpine lakes, craggy peaks, and getting off the grid…
The Barsotti Family have farmed their small slice of heaven since 1976. Gamay Noir excels in the rare Musick pink decomposed granite soils of this cold ravine site.
Technical Info:
Vineyard - Barsotti, El Dorado County
Vineyard Elevation - 2700 Ft.
Harvest Date - October 3rd, 2023
Winemaking - 100% Whole Cluster, Foot Stomped, Native Yeast Fermented
Aging - Neutral French Oak
Bottling Date - June 21st, 2024 (Bottled Unfined + Unfiltered)
Production - 2 Barrels
Alcohol % - 12.1
Label Notes:
Location - Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness
Flower - Golden Spiderhead Protea
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Inspired by:
The Krutsingers' profound commitment to holistic farming coupled with a deep affection for the underdog
A chance tasting of a Charbono made by Bertus led to the development of this regenatively farmed vineyard that we were fortunate to help plant.
Technical Info:
Vineyard - Krutsinger Family Farms, Sierra Foothills AVA
Vineyard Elevation - 2200 Ft.
Harvest Date - September 16th, 2023
Winemaking - 100% Whole Cluster, Foot Stomped, Native Yeast Fermented
Aging - Neutral French Oak
Bottling Date - June 21st, 2024 (Bottled Unfined + Unfiltered)
Production - 1 Barrel
Alcohol % - 10.8
Label Notes:
Location - Tunnel View, Yosemite
Flower - Black Bearded Sugarbush Protea
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Inspired by:
Grand Prismatic Spring
Known for its sulfur springs, Yellowstone was the first designated National Park in the USA. This vibrant and experimental wine plays on that theme, as no sulfur was used during its production.
Technical Info:
Vineyard - Zeferino Vineyard, Arroyo Grande Valley
Vineyard Elevation - 650 Ft.
Harvest Date - October 5th, 2022
Winemaking - 100% Whole Cluster, Foot Stomped, Native Yeast Fermented
Aging - Neutral French Oak, No Added Sulfur
Bottling Date - February 23rd, 2024 (Bottled Unfined + Unfiltered)
Production - 1 Barrel
Alcohol % - 14.2
Label Notes:
Location - Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
Flower - Strelitzia
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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:
90% Mourvèdre | 10% Syrah
Vineyards - Goldbud, Fenaughty, Camino Alto, David Girard, & Futernick in El Dorado County
Vineyard Elevation - 1360 - 2860 Ft.
Harvest Date - Sept 21st & Oct 2nd, 2019
Winemaking - 75% Whole Cluster, Foot Stomped
Aging - Neutral French Oak
Bottling Date - June 3rd, 2020 (Bottled Unfined + Unfiltered)
Production - 10 Barrels
Alcohol % - 12.5
Label Notes:
Location - Glacier National Park, Montana
Flower - King Protea
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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