From the thirst-quenching grapefruit and citrus layers of our Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc to the mineral, floral and starfruit flavors of our iconic Frenchman’s Blend, our winemaker, Kimberlee Nicholls, is as passionate about our white wines as she is about our famed Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons, and for good reason. “I love Sauvignon Blanc, which is one of the best wines for summer,” says Kimberlee. “It lends itself so wonderfully to summer socializing and it pairs beautifully with so many different foods.”
Sauvignon Blanc is currently having a moment. In fact, global Sauvignon Blanc plantings have doubled from just over 160,000 acres in 2000 to more than 320,000 in 2020. Long beloved for its role in great white Bordeaux-style wines, Sauvignon Blanc has found a home all over the world, including New Zealand, Chile, South Africa, Australia, Italy and the US. So, how does Sauvignon Blanc taste? Because of the diversity of the regions its grown in, and how Sauvignon Blanc can be made, it can take many forms, from the bright and zesty wines of New Zealand to the luxurious, age-worthy “Super Sauvignons” of Napa Valley. These qualities can be shaped by many factors, from when the grapes are harvested to whether they are fermented and aged in stainless steel, concrete vessels, or French oak barrels.
At our historic Napa Valley winery, more than 50% of the grapes for our Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc come from our Little Cannon Estate Vineyard in the Oak Knoll Appellation. Located at the southern end of the valley where it benefits from fog and wind off San Pablo Bay, Oak Knoll is one of the coolest regions in Napa Valley, making it ideal for Sauvignon Blanc. While Little Cannon provides the citrus, bright acid and minerality Kimberlee prizes, the blend also includes grapes from the warmer St. Helena and Pope Valley AVAs, with St. Helena contributing pear and honeysuckle notes and Pope Valley adding more luxurious tropical flavors. To preserve the wine’s vibrancy and elegance, it is fermented and aged almost entirely in stainless steel, with just a touch of barrel aging to add textural character.
One of the most unique and versatile wines we make, our delightfully non-traditional Frenchman’s Blend combines the refreshing citrus and mineral qualities of Sauvignon Blanc with the alluring charm of Chardonnay. Named in honor of Jean Laurent, the French winemaker who built our Historic Stone Cellar in 1879, this Sauvignon Blanc-Chardonnay blend was made entirely using grapes grown in the Haire loam soils of our Little Cannon Estate Vineyard. In the winery, Kimberlee ferments and ages the wine in 400-gallon Galileo concrete “cannonballs,” unique spherical vessels that build texture in the wine while preserving its most delicate aromas and flavors.
“I began experimenting with the cannonball in 2019 and I loved the way it added this textural richness to our Sauvignon Blanc while accentuating the floral and mineral notes.” In fact, Kimberlee was so happy with the results that she acquired another cannonball to ferment and age the Chardonnay for the Frenchman’s Blend. “The Frenchman’s Blend is a favorite of our cellar crew. Everything about this wine is pleasurable and fun to drink. It’s great chilled ice cold on a warm summer day, but as you allow the wine to warm up, you’ll notice the characteristics change in the glass in a lovely way and the personality of our Little Cannon Vineyard really shines through.”
To find our acclaimed Markham Vineyards wines at a location near you, including our delicious white wines, we invite you to view our restaurant and store locater. And, of course, the next time you’re in wine country we hope you will visit us at our stunning Tasting Room in beautiful St. Helena.