![]() However, American wine does not begin and end with California, and due to the vast size of the country and the incredible range of terrains and climates found within the United States, there is probably no other country on earth which produces such a massive diversity of wines. As such, it comes as little surprise that today more than eighty-nine percent of United States wines are grown in the valleys and on the mountainsides of California, where arguably some of the finest produce in the world is found. Not even in the Old World are there such fertile valleys, made ideal for vine cultivation by the blazing sunshine, long, hot summers and oceanic breezes. Today, under Bill’s stewardship, Kuleto is making some of the finest wine in its history.The first European settlers to consider growing grapevines in the United States must have been delighted when they discovered the now famous wine regions within California, Oregon and elsewhere. From the start he provided additional winemaking and farming resources to guarantee that quality would continue to rise at the lofty estate. As a fan of the winery’s bold mountain reds and whites, Bill believed the estate had the potential to become one of Napa Valley’s elite producers. Bill Foley, owner of Foley Family Wines, purchased Kuleto in 2009. Each block - the majority are less the one acre - is farmed and picked independently with harvest often lasting up to 50 days. Their experience with the property’s complex mountain terrain has led them to divide the vineyards into 100+ micro-blocks based upon topography and soil structure. Winemaker, Dave Lattin and longtime Cellarmaster, Giovani Verdejo manage Kuleto’s 15-member farming and winery team. After fermentation, the wines are gravity fed to the subterranean barrel cellar which provides a cool, humid environment for storage and maturation. The large fermentation room houses a variety of small to medium temperature-controlled fermentation vessels to ensure that every lot is vinified individually for greater quality, individuality and authenticity. An architectural showcase of technology, tradition and aesthetics, the 17,000 square foot, gravity-flow facility is both beautiful and tailor-made for vinifying luxury-class fruit. Construction of the Kuleto winery began in 1999 and was completed in 2001. In addition to growing grapes, the estate was also a working ranch with sheep, fowl, cattle, fish, orchards and gardens. ![]() Over the next few years, small blocks of Syrah, Zinfandel, Muscat and a number of blending varieties were added to the property. After the site was surveyed, analyzed and mapped, planting began in 1993 with a handful of micro-blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. ![]() In addition to its potential as a country estate, the property possessed a myriad of soils and the growing conditions needed to produce world-class, high-altitude wines. ![]() Helena, the property was wild, remote, beautiful and private. Overlooking Lake Hennessey, Pritchard Hill and the towns of Rutherford and St. Producer In 1992, culinary entrepreneur Pat Kuleto purchased 761 acres of rugged terrain in the mountains of Eastern Napa Valley. In many cases, the Syrah and Bordeaux varieties are fermented together to create something wholly unique. In the case of our India Ink Red Blend, we look for Bordeaux varieties from our many estate vineyard blocks that already lean toward Syrah with blue-black fruit flavors and meaty texture. Wine maker notes Depending on where and how grape varieties are grown, they can express themselves in a myriad of ways. ![]()
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