Carboniste "BETA" Passe-tout-grains, California 2023

FROM CARBONISTE:

THE WINE: The BETA is what happens when you take the traditional Burgundy-style Passe-tout-grain blend of Pinot noir and Gamay and give it a laid-back California vibe. The result is a fresh, “crunchy” (we’ll get to this later), light, chillable red wine ready to drink and be enjoyed. The Pinot noir in BETA hails from Deerpark Ranch in Corralitos, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Picture rolling hills, coastal breezes, and California sunshine. Now imagine all of that goodness captured in a grape. That’s the essence of our Pinot noir—exotic and floral, with a hint of that West Coast spirit only California can offer. On the flip side, we got Gamay noir from a young vineyard in Napa Carneros, the Nights in White Satin Vineyards. Fun fact: this is the very first grape harvest from this vineyard! The Gamay brings the dark, juicy black fruit flavors that balance perfectly with the floral notes of the Pinot noir.

THE PRODUCER: After meeting at UC Davis, Dan and Jacqueline Person worked around the world, then around California. These experiences informed their perspectives on winemaking. Dan worked for Schramsberg Vineyards for 3 years, making traditional sparkling wines from California grapes. Based on that experience, Dan decided there was a need for a new interpretation of California sparkling wine. Jacqueline was concurrently making still wines from a variety of terroirs across the Golden State, terroirs that have inspired the vineyard selections for CARBONISTE.