Latest news with #Sonoma-based
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
5 U.S. Wineries Making Brilliant Vermouth
getty Vermouth is omnipresent these days. Between the contradictory trends of low-ABV beverages and the ever-favored martini, the popularity of vermouth—a botanical-infused, fortified wine—is surging. Not to mention, vermouth, as a category, is also being propelled by the United States' embrace of European aperitivo culture. 'Premium-plus light aperitifs have been making headway in a number of the top 20 markets,' shared Emily Neill, IWSR chief operating officer research and operations, in a statement, adding that the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of light aperitifs, including vermouth, witnessed an increase of 18 percent between 2018 and 2023 and is predicted to accelerate to over 19 percent CAGR between 2023-2028. 'With a typical ABV of between 15 and 22 percent, they [aperitifs] can be served over ice with a slice of orange or lemon, but owe much of their success to their versatility — consumed in a spritz with soda water or in a number of cocktails, including the white negroni and the vesper,' emphasized Neill. The IWSR data focuses on the growth of premium European aperitif brands in the U.S.—popular labels include Carpano, Martini & Rossi, Cocchi and Dolin—but this consistent interest also explains why a handful of stateside wineries have invested in crafting their own vermouth. From Virginia to California, discover five U.S. wineries that are producing some compelling expressions of vermouth. getty Most oenophiles know this Sonoma-based winery for their site-specific Pinot Noir, but Scribe also produces a limited release of vermouth. In fact, the winery just released their latest Summer Vermouth, made with their estate Chardonnay. The base wine is fortified and infused with orange peel, wild fennel and lemon verbena for a delicate sip that can be simply savored over ice with an orange twist. Matthiasson Wines Twelve years ago, this Napa-based winery leapt ahead of the aperitif surge, when they released their first expression of sweet vermouth crafted with their own farm-grown botanicals. Now on their eighth edition, Matthiasson's farmhouse vermouth continues to use a base wine blend of Flora (a natural cross between Semillon and Gewürztraminer), Viognier and Muscat of Alexandria, that's infused with homegrown ingredients including blood oranges, sour cherries, coriander seed, cardoons and foraged wormwood for a perfect balance of dried fruit notes, savory herbs and warm spice. Mastrogiannis Distillery & Winery This Greek-American distillery and winery, based out of North Bend, Washington, crafts a rosé vermouth from a Syrah-base that's fortified with their housemade Baton brandy. Mastrogiannis uses a cold-soak technique over a five month period to allow for the gentle maceration of botanicals like mission and golden figs, wormwood, cocoa nibs, cinnamon and wild cherry bark. The vermouth is sweetened with Washington wildflower honey but it's still light and refreshing. Trinchero Family Estates The modern generation of the Trinchero family pays homage to the estates' founder, Mario Trinchero, who immigrated to New York City from Piedmont, Italy—vermouth's native—with their Trincheri Vermouth. Launched in 2019, the dry and sweet ( rosso ) vermouths are based on the Trinchero family's original recipes that trace back to the 1890s. Both expressions are produced with fruit from the family-owned vineyards in St. Helena; the dry vermouth is built on a base of French Colombard grapes and the rosso from Barbera and Chardonnay. Flying Fox Vineyard In 2017, this Afton, Virginia-based winery debuted their first vermouth as a way to expand their portfolio from eight premium wines. They've since released an entire range of vermouth with a fall, spring, summer and winter expression. Each style features notes of their respective season's flavors — fresh ginger and orange peel for fall; strawberry and rhubarb for spring; peaches and grapefruit for summer; pomegranate and cardamom for winter — fortified with neutral grape brandy.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
IMAGERY ESTATE WINERY AND ACCLAIMED STREET ARTIST ELLE STREET ART UNVEIL LIMITED-EDITION 2023 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SONOMA, Calif., May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagery Estate Winery tapped celebrated graffiti and mixed-media artist ELLE Street Art for a unique project to produce something more than just a wine or a piece of art, but a dialogue between the two crafts. The bottle celebrates two bold female voices in wine and art. The limited-edition 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is a striking piece of visual storytelling about the artistry of winemaking and brings together two trailblazing women in industries where female representation is still rare—fewer than 20% of winemakers are women, according to a recent study.1 "This collaboration is a celebration of creativity, vision, and pushing boundaries," said winemaker Jamie Benziger. "At Imagery, we've always believed that art belongs on the bottle, not just in the glass. ELLE's work brings that idea to life in a completely new way for our 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon." Jamie Benziger, the award-winning winemaker leading the innovative Sonoma-based winery. Benziger, named the 2019 Best Woman Winemaker by the International Women's Wine Competition and featured in Wine Enthusiast's 40 Under 40 Tastemakers, brings a bold, experimental spirit to winemaking that mirrors ELLE's own artistic ethos. ELLE's work was named by Vogue as "one of the top street art pieces to see before you die." Her latest project—a collaboration with a cruise line—will span over 2,000 feet. Previously, her art was featured on a 3,000-square-foot mural at the base of the Iconic Vessel Structure in New York. Now, ELLE is taking on a new challenge: translating her vivid style onto a wine label—a canvas nearly 25,000 times smaller. Given total control of the label, ELLE brought her signature collage techniques incorporating the action of a fire extinguisher's splatter juxtaposing against smooth ombres of spray paint, visually narrating Benziger's story and the handcrafted essence of the wine producing a design as intentional, textured and bold as the wine itself. "As a Bay Area native and a wine lover, this was deeply personal," said ELLE. "I wanted the label to reflect the layers and boldness of the Cabernet itself, as well as Jamie's passion and process. Every detail—from the drip on the canvas to the layered textures—tells part of that story." The limited-edition 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts with bold flavors of dark cherry, plum, and blackberry, elevated by complex notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice. It's a bottle that delivers sensory intrigue both inside and out. Perfect for collectors, wine lovers, and art enthusiasts alike. Available now at select independent retailers nationwide: 750 mL bottle - $25 MSRP 3L bottle - $125 MSRP Imagery Estate Wines has long integrated the arts into its winemaking identity. With a gallery of original artwork displayed at its Sonoma winery, each estate wine label traditionally features a unique commissioned piece. This release is the first time the brand has handed over its label to an artist for a national release—a bold move that turns the name "Imagery" into a literal reflection of the bottle's experience. For more information on the Imagery x ELLE Street Art collaboration visit About Imagery Estate WineryFounded in Sonoma, CA, Imagery Wine celebrates the intersection of artistry and winemaking. Every bottle of Imagery reflects a commitment to pushing boundaries, pairing traditional varietals with creative blends and distinctive artwork. For more information, visit About ELLE Street ArtInternationally acclaimed, ELLE Street Art is one of the top female artists in the street art world. From designing cruise ship hulls to creating massive installations for brands like Nike, Reebok, and Samsung to solo exhibitions across the globe, ELLE's paintings have appeared alongside legends like Basquiat and Keith Haring in museums from Amsterdam to London to Berlin. This release marks her first-ever wine label design and a continuation of her commitment to pushing creative boundaries. For more about ELLE, visit or check out her social media @ellestreetart About The Wine GroupThe Wine Group (TWG) is a leading producer of award-winning wines and alcoholic beverages across 120+ brands. With operations in California, New York and Australia, TWG is an innovator in developing and marketing brands beloved by consumers globally, including Cupcake, Franzia, Benziger, Imagery, Tribute, Chloe, 7 Deadly, Cooper & Thief, and more. We produce our products using sustainable practices to create delicious beverages that people can feel good about. Visit us at 1Zippia - Wine Maker Demographics and Statistics in the US – January 2025 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Imagery Estate Winery Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Squeezed By Tariffs, California Winemakers Fret About Future
Juliet, a California boxed wine brand that only produces in the Golden State and sells in just 10 ... More states domestically, is still impacted by the Trump administration's tariffs because it procures two packaging components from the international market. Juliet, a California boxed wine brand that only produces in the Golden State and sells in 10 states domestically, would on paper appear to be the type of small U.S. business that would see little impact from President Donald Trump's tariffs. But two components of Juliet's packaging—a tube and the pouch designed to keep the wine free in the box for up to four weeks—are sourced from vendors abroad. And that's turned into a big problem that vexes Juliet co-founder Allison Luvera. 'Finding solutions for those two packaging components over the next three years, that's a high, high priority for our business,' Luvera tells me during a virtual conversation. 'We are a business who wants to avoid raising prices to consumers, if possible.' Scot Bilbro, a second generation winemaker and owner of Sonoma-based winery Old Vine Ranch, says he still exports to Germany, the U.K. and Japan, but that most of his focus has turned to the U.S. 'We've always primarily been focused on domestic sales,' Bilbro tells me during an in-person interview in Manhattan. 'We're continuing to focus there and waiting for disruption to theoretically settle.' Tariffs remain a huge question mark for businesses in America and abroad, with a 145% tariff imposed on Chinese imports, but a more modest 10% baseline rate on about 60 countries as Trump seeks to renegotiate trade pacts. Juliet Wine co-founder Allison Luvera is looking to switch to domestic vendors for packaging ... More components she buys from abroad. Her hope is that by doing so, she can avoid price increases. Juliet launched in 2022 initially as a direct-to-consumer brand that's now sold in major retailers including Costco, Safeway, and will soon be available in Whole Foods. All six of the varietals, including a pinot noir and sauvignon blanc, are sourced from the central coast of California. Luvera says she feels fortunate and acknowledges that many other small businesses aren't so lucky. 'If we feel we're going to see moderate, negative impacts just having a small portion of our products sourced overseas, then the issue is going to be much, much broader and much more severe for many of our fellow founders where the majority of their supply chain is outside of this country,' says Luvera. Earlier this month, Luvera co-authored an open letter with 38 women founders and CEOs in the consumer goods space, calling on the Trump administration, U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer and members of Congress to work toward a solution where small businesses wouldn't be 'collateral damage' in a global trade war. 'Recent and proposed tariffs on consumer goods and key components, such as packaging materials, pose a disproportionate threat to small businesses like ours,' the letter stated. 'These trade measures will not only increase costs for our companies but ultimately lead to higher prices for American consumers. Unlike large corporations, small businesses lack the leverage to renegotiate supply chain contracts, the margins to absorb steep costs increases, or the capital required to rapidly reconfigure global supply chains. In many cases, domestic manufacturing alternatives don't exist.' Scot Bilbro, a second generation winemaker and owner of Sonoma-based winery Old Vine Ranch, says he ... More still exports to Germany, the U.K. and Japan but that most of his focus has turned to the domestic market as he awaits tariff-related disruptions to settle. The signatories of the letter represent businesses that generate $800 million annually and includes Meenakshi Lala, CEO of online florist Urbanstems; fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff; and Aishwarya Iyer, founder and CEO of olive oil, honey and vinegar brand Brightland. Luvera says within the wine industry, even for California wine producers that only sell domestically, they will still see an impact as distribution partners, retailers, restaurants and hotels are stung by tariffs that impact the price of imports like champagne, burgundy and prosecco. 'We're going to see the negative impacts,' says Luvera of the halo effect. 'Everything is very interconnected in terms of the global ecosystem that's been set up over the past decades.' 'We make a ton of wine in California and lots of other regions in the U.S.,' says Bilbro. 'I believe really, really strongly in American wine. But I believe in the heritage and history of all those other wine regions as well.' Tariffs, he says, destabilizes the business for key partners like Vintus, a wine wholesaler and importer that Bilbro works closely with for distribution and sales and marketing support. It also makes it harder for consumers like Bilbro to enjoy all the wines he loves and learns from, including those produced abroad. WInemaker Scot Bilbro launched a new wine brand this year, called Old Vine Ranch, despite all the ... More tariff-related market disruptions. Bilbro's largest international export market for Old Vine Ranch was Canada and due to the concerns about tariffs, that business has completely stopped. Canada accounts for 35% of all U.S. wine exports, worth $1.1 billion in retail value, according to industry policy advocacy group the Wine Institute. As Trump threatened 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico—his commitment to those tariffs has since vacillated many times over the past few months—the Wine Institute warned the instability would hurt the wine industry, which has faced a domestic sales slowdown in recent years. 'When our industry is disrupted, the impact reaches far beyond the winery—affecting farmworkers, distributors, small businesses, restaurants and entire communities across the country,' the Wine Institute said in a statement released earlier this month. Bilbro says he's personally taken a step back from following the daily swirl around tariffs too closely. 'What we have done is accept the reality of significant disruption, particularly with our primary export partner,' he says. He recalls an internal meeting he held with his winery's managers at the end of 2024 where Bilbro could feel the negative morale that employees were feeling as the challenges that wineries were facing felt to pile up. 'We've been putting a lot more focus on our employees,' says Bilbro, including spending money to support his employee base and the local community. The winemaker also launched a new wine brand this year, called Old Vine Ranch. 'We decided that we're not going to feel like we need to have as much certainty in order to move forward,' says Bilbro. 'It's really easy to go through a litany of negatives. What we've been doing is reframe the conversation and focus on the positive, focus on growth, and focus on opportunity.'
