LOS ANGELES (Oct. 15, 2012) – Whole Foods Market’s Southern California stores and local vineyards are celebrating the fruits of their labor with three new “One Wine” custom blends. Partnering with vineyards including Ampelos, Happy Canyon and Sextant, Whole Foods Market designed this collaborative wine-making program to bring shoppers unique, local varietals, straight from the cellar to the shelves – all at affordable prices.
Available for only a limited time at Whole Foods Market’s Southern California stores, the latest edition of special One Wine labels include a pinot noir, merlot blend and cabernet sauvignon.
“The partnership we have forged with these local vineyards has taken root and flourished over the last seven months,” said Roger Fawcett, Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific Region specialty associate coordinator. “Our collaborative efforts have helped us think outside of the barrel and create these one-of-a-kind wines, providing Whole Foods Market shoppers with access to special occasion wines at everyday low prices.”
With their unique climate, geography and soil, the Santa Barbara County and Paso Robles areas are local gems in Southern California’s precious wine country. To date, 16 handcrafted wines have resulted from Whole Foods Market’s One Wine collaborations, including partnerships with Ampelos Cellars, Au Bon Climat Winery, Clendenen Family Winery, Happy Canyon, Hartley Ostini Hitching, Hearst Ranch Winery Post Winery, Margerum Wine Company, and Sextant.
“Sextant and Whole Foods Market have joined together to create a flavorsome cabernet that is a cause for celebration. With grapes grown to their optimal maturity, we have created a wine for customers that value and appreciate supreme quality. From our vineyards to your table, we know you’ll enjoy this wine,” said Craig Stoller, proprietor of Sextant.
The newest One Wine creations include:
One Wine Ampelos Pinot Noir ($29.99)
As one of the first vineyards in the U.S. to be Sustainability in Practice, organic, and biodynamic certified, Ampelos Vineyards sits on the rolling Santa Rita Hills and enjoys the perfect recipe of sunlight, cool breezes and rich clay soil that yields life to organically grown grapes. After aging 28 months in French oak, 10 specific barrels were chosen for their dense characteristics of fruit, spice and tannins. A true collaboration of earth, vines, craftsmanship and friendship exist in every bottle.
One Wine Happy Canyon Vineyards Merlot Blend ($17.99)
The 2010 Happy Canyon Estate Merlot is a blend of the five principle Bordeaux varietals grown on property. It is comprised of 75 percent merlot, 20 percent cabernet sauvignon, two percent cabernet franc, two percent Malbec and one percent Petit Verdot. Happy Canyon Vineyard, owned by the Barrack family, produces some of the most sought after wines from this special area.
One Wine Sextant Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99)
Proprietors Nancy and Craig Stollers’ passions of fine wine and gourmet cuisine coincides with their love for the ocean as exemplified in the namesake of their winery. Sextant Wines celebrates the Central Coast as a wine destination and as an appellation that produces world-class wines with local flavor. This exclusive estate bottled wine was fermented in stainless tanks and aged in 30 percent French, American and Hungarian oak barrels. The 2011 One Wine consists of 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
For more information on Whole Foods Market’s wines, along with tasting tips, please visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com/department/wine. Also, wine lovers can get a taste of One Wine by viewing a mini-documentary here.
One Wine is produced in limited quantities due to the specialized blends. Check your nearest Whole Foods Market store to pick up the latest collaboration creation.
