Early last fall, a team of City Winery staffers and volunteers, led by winemaker Bill Anton, were bustling about the venue's winemaking room, getting down to the business of sorting through four and a half tons of California-grown Syrah grapes. The shipment had arrived via truckand it had arrived early.
Though the music venue and restaurant has been in operation since 2014, the winery portion wasn't officially up and running until last fall. Using grapes sourced from various vineyards in California, the team, which includes Anton and assistant winemaker Laura Cypress, started producing wines in September, going through the crush, press, and fermentation process on site.
From the back of the venue's main room, you can see into the barrel room where these wines, along with others that have been produced at the other City Winery locations, are aging in barrels. The bottling takes place in the same warehouse-like space. The results from the 2015 fall harvesta lineup that includes a chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and rosé of pinot noir, all of which were produced in Nashvillewill be available at the restaurant in bottles and on tap starting in April 2016.
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Tasting Notes
2015 'Centennial” Chardonnay, Scopus Vineyard (Sonoma, California)
Lemon peel and stone fruit aromas lead this wine, balanced nicely by a strong acid and smooth mouthfeel. A delicate oak influence rounds it out, enhancing notes of caramel and vanilla on the palate.
2015 '615” Sauvignon Blanc, Windrem Vineyard (Lake County, California)
Flavors of fresh cut grass, apricot, and tart nectarine parallel the vivid acidity and light mouthfeel of this wine. Strongly aromatic and floral, this sauvignon blanc is refreshing and beautiful both on its own and as a complement to your meal.
2015 'MelRosé” Rosé of Pinot Noir (California)
Crisp and refreshing, this fruit-driven rosé gets its tint from pinot noir grown in the rich soils of Santa Barbara and Mendocino counties. Strawberry, cherry, and floral aromatics complement the bright acidity. This one is best served slightly chilled on a warm day.