Our CEO, Emma Swain, recalls “When I first started in the wine business Al Brounstein of Diamond Creek gave me a long explanation on the importance of Estate wines, and I think he is more right today than he was over 20 years ago. I believe Estate wines give the winemaker and viticulturalist the opportunity to improve every aspect of their activity year to year as they are using the same grapes to make the same wines, especially when you combine this with a vineyard designate. They can review their practices and continually improve their processes.”

June 2014Wine Club Ne wsle tter

The State of an Estate

What does it mean to be an “Estate” wine? Estate, in its most basic form, means a winery controls the winemaking process from grape to bottle. The grapes are grown on a vineyard owned by the winery and the wine is processed, aged, and bottled at the winery. An Estate wine speaks to consistency, especially if it is a vineyard designate. The winery itself, as well as all of the grapes used, must be from the same appellation of origin, and that appellation must be designated on the wine label. 100% of the wine’s blend must originate from an Estate property, vintage to vintage. Get the Latest in Wine Education:

Ampelography Master ClassLearn how to identify individual grape varieties by the distinctive attributes of their leaves. This is a unique experience that St. Supéry Estate developed with Lucie Morton, world-renowned viticulturist and expert on Ampelography.

After a brief tutorial paired with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, test your knowledge in our Ampelography Vineyard with your wine educator. Once you’re able to match the leaf on the vine to the varietal in your glass, return to the gallery for more estate wines and perfectly paired small bites. Shoes appropriate for walking in the vineyard are recommended.Contact our Wine Club team at 866.612.2582 to book your experience.

Estate indicates a winery has the highest level of control over the grape growing and winemaking process and the winery is communicating that to the consumer by putting Estate on their label. An Estate wine is not something purchased on the bulk market and blended to produce wine at a higher volume. It was created to be the best and can be improved upon year after year if the winemaking team is committed to a quest for excellence. The winemaking team at St. Supéry is dedicated to this quest and we believe it results in outstanding wines.

Estate Club Shipment

Retail Price: $35.00Club Price: $28.00

2013 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

2010 Dollarhide Estate VineyardPetit Verdot

This wine presents with brilliant, sparkling hues of pale yellow and green. Aromas of grapefruit, lime and Key lime are encompassed by smoky oak with lemon rind, anise and a subtle earthen element of wet slate. A combination of lemon and lime flavors are enhanced by grapefruit and zippy lychee. The wine has lovely texture, volume and length, with a clean citrus finish.

This Petit Verdot is a deep, dark purple. Aromas of young blackberry and plum are laced with notes of vanillin oak, mocha, licorice and a subtle hint of dusty terroir. Flavors of blackberry and briar combine with black pepper and espresso. Additional complexity is brought on by barrel maturation. This Petit Verdot has the structure and density typical of this varietal. It is a big, bold, structured wine.

Learn more about this month’s wines: http://youtube.com/stsupery

The versatility of this wine is simply wonderful. There is vibrant and explosive fruit balanced beautifully by a nice acidity. People love to enjoy this wine on its own because it sets a tone on its own without having to worry about a pairing. We recently had a Wine Club member tell us she would only drink red wines until she discovered this wine. Now it is her “go-to” wine! We hope you are equally excited about this Sauvignon Blanc.

We are proud to be one of a few wineries that produce a single varietal Petit Verdot offering. We love this wine because it is so aromatic, exuding the fragrances of the garden. It draws you in and rewards you. Our Petit Verdot pairs beautifully with world cuisine rich with spices. It is particularly divine served with dishes like lamb with herbs and chicken mole.

Retail Price: $50.00Club Price: $40.00

Divine Club Shipment Dollarhide Ranch

Retail Price: $100.00Club Price: $80.00

1999 Napa Valley Meritage Red wine(Before we named it Élu)

This wine exhibits deep hues of red and purple. The aromas are bright and forward with a strong concentration of ripe blackberry and notes of anise and vanilla. The generous palate is dominated by ripe, sweet berry and cedar-oak qualities credited to the extended period spent in barrel. The flavors are long and round, finishing with firm, pleasant tannins. This well integrated wine shows silkiness and finesse with overall balance and harmony.

Learn more about this month’s wines: http://youtube.com/stsupery

There’s much more to Dollarhide Ranch than 500 acres of extraordinary vineyards. The former cattle ranch has seven lakes and an orchard of over 1,000 fruit trees. We grow 87 varieties of peaches, 34 varieties of nectarines, 19 varieties of apples, 16 varieties of pluots and more. We even have bees and make our own honey when the bears don’t beat us to it. If you visit us this summer, you’ll have a chance to try some of our fruits and vegetables paired with our wines.

Every year a group from the Audubon Society joins us for a Christmas Bird Count. The 114th Christmas Bird Count concluded January 5th, 2014. A highlight sighting this year was the Sandhill Crane. It’s not a particularly rare bird in America, but it is rare to see them in Napa Valley. Here is a photo of a Sandhill Crane we took in April.

Four years ago, the Audubon Society spotted the only group of tricolored blackbirds they have seen in Napa Valley. In addition, our Vineyard Manager, Josh, installed over 100 nesting boxes for bluebirds. The birds responded well to their new homes. You’ll see the bluebirds when you visit the winery. They are a great help with pest control because they eat pests that have the potential to harm grapevines, like caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers.

Though the composition changes with each vintage, the winemaking style that Michael Scholz first developed with world-renowned enologist, Michel Rolland, remains the same. Michael balances the nuanced characteristics of the Bordeaux varietals we grow on our two estate properties to compose a harmonious, balanced blend. This is a particularly strong vintage that shows why you would want to age a wine. It is compelling because it is both austere and graceful. We recommend enjoying it over a special meal with someone you love.

Estate grown. Family Owned.S u s t a i n a b l y F a r m e d .C e r t i f i e d N a p a G r e e n .

St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery • 8440 St. Helena Hwy • Rutherford, CA 94573 wineclub@stsupery.com • www.stsupery.com •1.866.612.CLUB (2582)

please call the winery for reservations

Our moscato club ships in April, September and December.

*We ship in May if high temperatures will affect the quality of your wines.

Please call our Reservations Concierge at 707.963.4507 for more information and pricing.

Estate ClubFebruary

2013 Napa Valley Estate Sauvignon Blanc2011 Rutherford Estate Vineyard Merlot

April2013 Napa Valley Estate Oak Free Chardonnay

2011 Dollarhide Elevation

May*/June2013 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

2010 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Petit Verdot

September2013 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Semillon2011 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Malbec

October2013 Napa Valley Estate Virtú2011 Napa Valley Estate Élu

December2013 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Chardonnay

2004 Napa Valley Estate Élu

Saturday, July 19San Francisco Bay Cruise

and Angel Island BBQ9:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

$225/personSaturday, October 11

Fleet Week & Blue AngelsSan Francisco Bay Cruise

11:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.$195/person

DIVINE ClubFebruary

2010 Dollarhide Elevation

April2010 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

May*/June1999 Napa Valley Estate Élu

September2011 Rutherford Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

October2011 Dollarhide Elevation

December2005 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Friday, May 16#SauvBlanc Day

All day, everywhere!

Calendar of Upcoming Events

2014 Wine Club Shipments