| LCBO

Bathed in Light

Vintages Feature Story

Boundless sunshine, rolling hills, beautiful morning fog, endless beaches, a luxurious hospitality sector and of course, delicious wine. It’s easy to see why California is unmatched when it comes to enjoying the finer things in life. Let us take you there with our curated list of wines from some of the Golden State’s top producers. You’ll find the best gifts, great pairing options and the perfect new additions to your cellar.

[pictured: The J. Lohr family]


Beringer / Humble Beginnings

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The oldest continuously running winery in the USA, Beringer Vineyards is well-known for influencing many aspects of Californian viticulture. It was founded by German-born Jacob Beringer in the 1870s. Beringer showed interest in Napa Valley upon hearing that Napa soils were like those of his home in the Rhineland. Many successful harvests would ensue from 1876 until Prohibition in the 1920s. After Prohibition, in 1934, Beringer Vineyards became the first winery to offer public tours. Visitors were drawn to its historic villas and gorgeous vineyards, beginning the trend of Napa hospitality that defines the region’s legendary tourism sector.

[pictured: The Rhine house]


Kistler / Nuts and Bolts

A winery that’s almost entirely devoted to Chardonnay, Kistler has long been admired for its unctuous, well-balanced wines. Founder Steve Kistler has a strict policy when it comes to growing and sourcing grapes for his wines, most notably that all grapes are the same clone of Chardonnay. This consistency ensures a pure, reliable quality reflective of Sonoma Coast. Adored for their rich, tangy, notably nutty character, Kistler’s many Chardonnays are among the best whites to have on the dinner table and are snatched up by collectors every year.

[pictured: Rugged beauty at Kistler]

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Stag's Leap Wine Cellars / Goliath, Meet David

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In 1976, the USA shocked the wine world when contenders from California’s finest vineyards reigned victorious over the wines of Bordeaux, which had been unquestionably considered the best of the best. Among the wines tasted at the legendary Judgment of Paris event was a red from a brand-new winery called Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. Though Stag’s Leap was an unknown winery at the time, its 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon would be crowned champion of the reds, cementing its place in the annals of wine history. Since then, Stag’s Leap continues to produce brash, terroir-driven wines of unbridled character that are staples among collectors of fine Napa Valley wine.

[pictured: Marcus Notaro, winemaker]


Belle Glos / That Lovely Morning Glow

As a fifth-generation winemaker, Joseph Wagner had some intimidating shoes to fill. His grandfather Charlie Wagner Sr. aided in setting the groundwork for what would become the Caymus legacy, and his father, Chuck Wagner, brought the Caymus name to the top of California’s winemaking scene. Instead of continuing the tradition of growing outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon, Joseph decided to showcase the potential Pinot Noir held in California by creating the Belle Glos label, named in honour of his grandmother Lorna Belle Glos Wagner. Lorna was an inspirational figure to Joseph and an avid lover of Pinot Noir. Belle Glos wines are big, juicy, and as extravagant as the bottles they’re presented in.

[pictured: Joseph Wagner]

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Caymus-Suisun / Petite, but Durable

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The Caymus winery name has been employed since 1972, but the Wagner family that started Caymus Vineyards has been growing fruit in California since as early as 1915. Proprietor Chuck Wagner has long been admired for crafting sumptuous, lavish wines sourced from Napa Valley and its surrounding regions, most notably the Suisun Valley. Granted AVA designation in 1982, the Suisun Valley is becoming increasingly popular for producing wines with the Durif (a.k.a. Petite Sirah) grape. Durif is often used as a blending agent for more popular varieties, but Caymus has been hard at work crafting luxurious wines capable of showcasing the quality the grape possesses as a standalone variety thanks to the Suisun Valley’s alluvial clay soils, cool nights, and fog-laden mornings.


Paul Hobbs / Comparing Apples to Grapes

Paul Hobbs was born to farm. Growing up on an orchard in upstate New York, he was introduced to the concept of terroir at a young age. His father presented him two apples of the same variety but grown in two different locations. He noticed a stark difference in their taste and overall quality. The event left a lasting impression on Hobbs, who has made the concept of terroir-driven, single-vineyard winemaking a calling card of his portfolio. An international visionary in winemaking, Hobbs makes wines for many labels in many regions across the globe, including Napa Valley, Sonoma County’s Crossbarn, and Hillick & Hobbs winery in New York’s Finger Lakes, to name but a few.

[pictured: Paul Hobbs]

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Grgich Hills / Croatia to California

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“Miljenko ‘Mike’ Grgich” is a name that inspires quality when it comes to winemaking. The now-100-year-old Croatian native moved to California in the ’50s to work on farms in Napa Valley, eventually solidifying a spot as winemaker for Chateau Montelena. He gained international critical acclaim when Montelena’s 1973 Chardonnay was awarded best white wine at the Judgment of Paris in 1976. A year later, he would create his own wine label in the Rutherford district: Grgich Hills Estate. One of the few certified-organic wineries in all of Napa, Grgich Hills is beloved for its instinctive approach to crafting top-quality wine.

[pictured: Winemaker Ivo Jeramaz]


Orin Swift / Out of the Ordinary

Winemaker David Phinney’s rise in the wine world was rather… quick. After returning from a trip to Florence in 1995, he became obsessed with winemaking, creating Orin Swift Cellars just a few years later in 1998. Phinney’s original claim to fame was in the early 2000s when he debuted The Prisoner wines: an incredibly successful brand that fueled his vision for Orin Swift. Admired for his inventive wine blends that feature unconventional grapes, unusual names and memorable, unique labels, Phinney creates wines for everyone, from collectors looking to spruce up their cellar with a chic vintage to the everyday wine lover looking for the perfect eye-catching gift.

[pictured: Winemaker David Phinney]

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Cliff Lede / Classic Rocks

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Edmonton native Cliff Lede (pronounced lay-dee) worked in his family’s construction business for 25 years before ditching his suit and tie for farmer’s overalls. The Canadian purchased parcels in Stags Leap and neighbouring Yountville to craft sumptuous wines that reflect the diverse terroir the regions have to offer, keeping his cornucopia of parcels organized by naming them after his favourite classic rock songs. Cliff Lede wines are adored for their depth of character and are sure to bring you Closer to the Heart (of California).


J. Lohr / Pure Paso Passion

It should come as no surprise that the emergence of the Central Coast and Paso Robles in particular as respected California AVAs coincided with the creation of J. Lohr Vineyards. Agriculturalist Jerome “Jerry” Lohr founded the winery in the 1970s after spending a decade searching for the perfect soils to grow Cabernet Sauvignon. Lohr looked to the south of his home in Monterey County and found Paso Robles, where conditions were ideal for growing big, juicy red wines. The venture proved hugely successful; J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most popular red wines on the planet, with millions of cases sold every year.

[pictured: Vice-president of winemaking Steve Peck]

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