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At Garden Creek Ranch ‘Lagom' Is A Swedish Mindset That Influences Their Wine – From Vine To Table

Justin and Karin Wärnelius-Miller in the vineyard. Garden Creek Ranch As with many other international experssions, the translation of Sweden's lagom isn't so definitive in English. Yet, Karin Wärnelius-Miller, proprietor of Garden Creek Ranch in Sonoma's Alexander Valley, gives it her best shot. 'Lagom is a Swedish way of thinking that applies to really enjoying life, taking your time and presence,' says Wärnelius-Miller. At the same time, it's more than being in the moment, it's harmony, it's symbiotic relationships, it's the simple things, she adds: 'It's a complete and utter description of us as winemakers and how we would describe our wines.' Born in Linköping, Sweden, Wärnelius-Miller and her husband, Justin, have been producing their own label at Garden Creek Ranch since 2001 — the same year they married. The 100-acre estate was originally planted to Cabernet Sauvignon vines in 1969 by Justin's father, and is where the now husband-wife duo met and fell in love. Their first two decades at the helm of Garden Creek Ranch, the couple focused on two wines — Tesserae, an estate proprietary red wine assemblage with a Cabernet Sauvignon focus and a 100 percent Chardonnay, clonal selection blend. Last year, they debuted a new Pinot Noir under a separate label, Wärnelius-Miller, marking their production beyond the Alexander Valley. Tesserae Estate Red Wine Garden Creek Ranch 'The sophistication that happens with patience is exquisite,' says Karin, connecting back to lagom's sentiment of 'taking your time.' She mentions this as the couple acquired the steep-sloped plot of Pinot Noir in 2013. 'It's a difficult and expensive site to farm… Most people would walk away from it or use the fruit for sparkling programs,' she shared, but Karin and Justin committed to the land and its redevelopment according to their lagom ethos. The result was one worth waiting for, according to Karin, who describes a Pinot Noir with lush, round tannins but also a refined and delicate texture that's quintessential to the variety. This makes the third wine in their portfolio as versatile for culinary pairings as their first two wines. 'Our wines are crafted for food pairing and adaptable with many different cuisines and dishes; this is achieved through careful craftsmanship, knowledge and following the mantra of producing a low intervention wine,' says Karin, acknowledging that even though 'low intervention' has become a buzz word within the industry, they've been producing wines according to its true definition as a reflection of place, land, soils and hands of the winegrower for decades. The best way to experience this through their wine is to experiment with your pairings, of which Karin shares some inspiration from the Swedish kitchen, below. WärneliusMiller Pinot Noir and Grilled Lamb Skewers with Rosemary Glaze The natural flavors of lamb highlights the wine's texture and weight as it brings out the bright acidity but also muscular tannins imparted by the high elevation and soils of the vineyard. 'This pairing reminds me of the long days of summer, yet can be cooked and delicious in the colder months,' says Karin. 'It is one you sit with and enjoy slowly.' Garden Creek Tesserae and Kalops Garden Creek Tesserae is Justin and Karin's estate red wine that's aged for eight years prior to release. This allows for a tremendous integration of aromatics, flavors and texture to become one and balanced. The perfect pairing for this is Kalops, a slowly-cooked Swedish beef stew, cooked with spices, including bay leaves, whole peppercorns, allspice, onions and carrots. 'The wine's tannins and phenolics pair beautifully with the weight of the beef,' advises Karin. Garden Creek Chardonnay and Toast Skagen This is a pairing that they say, 'simply solves your problems,' says Karin. It's simple and versatile for any time of year combining cooked prawns with dill, caviar and Meyer lemon atop a hearty toast. The fresh starter pairs expertly with the bright aromatics of the Chardonnay and the lively acidity prepares the mouth for another bite after every sip.