OneHope - One impactful wine

It was the flashy, pink glittery bottle of champagne that drew me in at a Battery member wine tasting event in San Francisco. I’ll admit, I’m attracted to shiny things and the bottle screamed “I’m sexy, I’m unique, I’m fresh and perfect to bring if you want to make a splash at any occasion”.  Later on, I couldn’t get the glitter bottle out of my mind, so I took to my computer to do some research on how to get my hands on one of those bottles. As I explored the OneHope site, I realized that this wine, much like Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde, was much MUCH more than a pretty package…its mission is not pure consumer delight, but to positively impact an array of causes, giving back with every bottle.

OneHope was founded by 8 optimistic twenty-somethings who decided they wanted to use a favorite indulgence (wine) for good cause, donating proceeds from every wine purchase towards a unique charitable cause.  Similar to the Toms or Warby Parker “buy one give one” craze of the past decade, this younger generation of winemakers isn’t content to just produce good product with sleek packaging, but seek to also raise awareness and make an impact in the world through every bottle of wine sold. OneHope donates 50% of the profit from every bottle sold to their specified causes and as of this blog post, has already made more than $2 Million in donations, supporting over 12 causes, each measured on impact (i.e. each case of Chardonnay sold represents one clinical trial for a woman with breast cancer). Causes include autism and breast cancer research, microloans to help break the cycle of poverty, placing sheltered animals in new homes, vaccinating children to prevent deadly illness, planting trees to help save our planet and providing clean drinking water to people around the world. OneHope has also established another way to generate money for causes; if you host an at-home tasting with ViaOneHope (their direct sales community), 15% of the sales from that event can go to a local charity of your choice.  

But it gets better. The wine actually tastes good.  So good, that it’s ranked the #1 selling wine out of 10,000 wines available for purchase on Amazon, has received multiple 90+ point ratings, and has been rated one of the top 300 wineries by volume of 8,000+ in the US!  Key to the wine’s quality and success? Back in 2009, Michael Mondavi, one of the pioneers of the Napa Valley wine industry, met the young founders at a tradeshow and offered to help them.  Today, Rob Mondavi Jr. is a consultant winemaker for the brand and produces a product that’s consistently high quality and actually affordable too. R.M. Jr. does all of the sourcing for OneHope and has helped expand the portfolio of wines to include grapes that come from Monterey, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Lodi, Sonoma Coast, etc.  Since OneHope wants anyone to be able to afford and enjoy their wines, they have a moderately priced core collection, and have expanded to Reserve tiers and special editions (including the Glitter bottles!)

I haven’t yet visited OneHope in person, as it’s undergoing construction and will not be finished for another year and a half, but I am eagerly awaiting the opening and looking forward to a “hard-hat tour” before it’s officially open.  The winery has been designed by renowned architect, Howard Backen, iconic in wine country for designing Meadowood and Harlan Estate, and will be located on a prime piece of real estate in the heart of Napa wine country off of Highway 29 in Rutherford across the road from Cakebread and a neighbor to the iconic Mondavi Winery.  The 15,000 sq. foot winery facility is intended to be a community hub, great for social gatherings, exhibits and tributes to the causes supported. The design will feature lots of windows and glass doors to bridge the outdoors with interior, wrap around porches, and a large private barrel room and tasting room open for public tasting. It will be named "Estate 8" to symbolize the 8 partners that founded it, to represent the infinity sign, in all of its symmetry and infinite cycling of resources, and to pay homage to the Chow family that the winery was purchased from, since 8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture. OneHope is not just a producer of wine, but rather a lifestyle brand that you will want to be part of, especially if you embrace the company’s credo: “Make giving back part of what you do every day”.

Wines I sampled*

*Fun fact: the dots on the bottles aren’t just a pretty decoration, rather they’re a statistic representation related to the cause supported by the bottle; i.e. 1 in 7 children do not know where their next meal is coming from in the US, hence, 1 in 7 dots is filled in on the Sparkling Brut.  For every case of the Sparkling Brut sold, 25 meals are donated through the charitable partner, WhyHunger.

Rutherford Estate Sauvignon Blanc: A unique sauvignon blanc that is aged in oak yet remains crisp and fresh. Notes of tangy citrus, stone fruit, and tropical fruits are balanced with a bite of crisp green apple. Really intense fruit flavors and aromatics.

California Brut Sparkling Wine: Crisp, light, wine with a nose of green apple filled croissant .  The body has light fruit flavors of gooseberry, white peach, baked bread and prickly pear. Refreshing and perfect for summer.

California Chardonnay: A warm, rich Chardonnay with aromas of baked apple pie sprinkled with baking spices.  On the palate, buttery caramel apple, vanilla bean toffee and crisp pear.

California Cabernet: A deep hued cabernet with nice tight structure and hints of blue fruits to match the bottle. Notes of blackberry cordial, coffee, dark chocolate and some dried tobacco. Some secondary notes of leather and roasted plum make for a nice finish.

California Pinot Noir: A bright, layered pinot with notes of red fruits, wild strawberries and bing cherries on the nose and palate. Secondary flavors of fall leaves, spices and violet make this wine interesting and rich with a nice finish.

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Odette - Gavin Newsom's Newest Daughter...

Gavin Newsom has welcomed another new member to his family.  Family of wineries that is... Nestled in the hills across from Pine Ridge Winery right off the Silverado Trail in the Stags Leap District, Odette is the adorable new sister winery to Plumpjack (in the Oakville appellation) and CADE Estate Winery (in the Howell Mountain appellation).  The Stags Leap District where Odette makes her home is famous for it’s distinctive varietal aromas and flavors and a delicately articulated structure to its powerful wines.  The winery was purchased in February 2012 and the tasting room opened in August, 2012 .  While visitors are welcome, the winery and caves are currently undergoing an extensive remodel by Juancarlos Fernandez, the man behind CADE. The new winery will be LEED certified and the wine will be 100 percent organic. Odette’s navy-blue and white hued tasting room currently serves the Adaptation wine label created from different Napa appellations, and the Odette Estate and Reserve wines as well as winery and cave tours will not be available until 2014.  

By that date, Odette will also open an event space that can accommodate 150 people for events and wedding receptions.  The 40 acres of planted Odette property owned by Odette will grow Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.   The winery will still distribute Adaptation when the Odette Estate wines open and this label is currently only for purchase at Odette winery property.  If you’re curious how this family came to be named, look no further than Shakespeare.  The Plumpjack winery is named after a character from a Shakespearean play.  CADE winery is the Old English translation for the word for Cask, and Odette is a tongue and cheek name derived from several famous stories: She was one of Henry the 14th’s wives, the white swan from Swan Lake and was also the only female judge in the famous Judgement of Paris in 1976, who demanded her ballot back after voting in favor of Napa’s Chateau Montelena over French cabernet blends. The feather on the Adaptation wine bottle label comes from the white swan, Odette and this label is their adaptation to the new winery (blending from all over the valley) before the Odette Estate and Reserve Wines from Stags Leap are ready to be released in 2014.

The tasting room is open weekly from 10:30 am - 4:00 pm by appointment only, and private tastings can be accommodated in the private room, refreshing and whimsical with a large dandelion painted across one wall, and paintings of the White Swan from Swan Lake hung on an adjacent wall, and floor to ceiling glass on the other so guests can enjoy views of the beautiful Stags Leap cliffs and vineyards outside the white picket fence bordering the property.  I brought my family to taste at Odette on Christmas Eve, and we enjoyed a leisurely tasting of a variety of Plumpjack, Cade and Adaptation wines, while enjoying the airy environment and some delicious olives and marcona almond snacks.  The selection of wines is suitable to any palate and comes in varying price points so that there truly is something affordable for everyone - from a prince to a pauper (well maybe paupers don’t drink wine this good but you get the picture).  The Chardonnays from both Adaptation and Plumpjack are made with no malolactic fermentation and they manage to maintain a crisp freshness that is still round and supple - When you’re there - try to taste which one has 40% oak barrel aging...  

Aside from these white beauties, my favorites from our tasting included the seductively smoky Syrah and the Howell Mountain Cabernet.  The Merlot (whose Grapes are sourced from the famed Beckstoffer vineyards) is one that will turn your opinion of Merlot sideways, so be sure to request a taste of this elegant wine as well. Tasting notes from our visit are below:

2010 Plumpjack Chardonnay: $48 Aged in 40% oak, this wine shows inviting aromas Granny Smith apples, Bartlett pears, orange blossom, and cinnamon spice. On the palate, flavors of apple pie, pear, banana bread and green tea give into a rich yet racy finish. The acidity is perfectly balanced and the wine well-rounded and supple.

2011 Adaptation Chardonnay: $32
This 100% stell-tank aged refreshing Chardonnay has aromas of citrus, white peach, orange blossom and flavors of Granny Smith Apple are accompanied by a hint of minerality, a touch of creaminess, and crisp acidity for a pleasing finish.  

2009 Cade Napa Cuvee: $60
This elegant Cuvee is a blend of 88% Cab, 7% Petit Verdot, and 5% Merlot. Aromas of Black Cherry and Créme de Cassis are followed on the palate with flavors of Bing Cherry, Pipe Tobacco, Baker's Chocolate, caramel and Roasted Nuts. ant, silky finish.

2010 Plumpjack Merlot: $52
This 93 point wine has rich aromas of Black Cherry, Baked Plums, and Blackberry followed with warm notes of Dark Fudge, Chocolate, and Vanilla Beans. On the palate is Raspberry Cordial, Cherry Pie Filling, and Cedar box mingle with hints of Cinnamon. The sweet toastiness comes from 15 months barrel aging in 70% French oak and 20% American oak.

2010 Adaptation Cabernet Sauvignon: $42
This well-balanced wine opens with bright red fruits - raspberries, tart cherry and dried cranberry with notes of vanilla and espresso.  The palate has a concentrated core with layers of black currant, cocoa powder, toffee, and candied cherry.

2009 CADE Howell MTN Cabernet Sauvignon: $80
This wine has wonderful freshness with flavors of chocolate, currant, mint, and vanilla bean on the palate.  The wine has firm supple tannins and can be aged for 6-9 years.

2010 Plumpjack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: $98
This dense, elegant Cabernet is an opulent wine that has great structure and balance.  Notes of blackberry and cherry on the nose and palate are accompanied by threads of black pepper, mint, vanilla and spices giving the wine a sultry complexity.

2010 Plumpjack Syrah: $48
This beautifully aromatic wine has flavors of raspberry cordial, blackberry, star anise, ripe plums white pepper, savory smoked meat and vanilla which finesse the palate with an alluringly precise palate.

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