Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Merlot

Wine information: Jacuzzi Family Vineyards' story begins in America in 1907 when Valeriano and Francesco Jacuzzi, sons of Giovanni and Teresa Jacuzzi, immigrated to Washington to work on the railroad. Eventually they moved to the warmer climes of southern California to work in the aviation industry and were joined there by various other members of the family, including four more brothers, and their father Giovanni (a a skilled wood worker and vineyard farmer). Valeriano started working with his brothers at their Jacuzzi Brothers factory. Valeriano moved his family to Northern California and purchased a 161-acre farm in Contra Costa County. During the depression, shortly after 1921, Valeriano decided to begin growing grapes and the the vineyard was planted to Zinfandel, Carignane and Mourvedre. In 1937, Valeriano returned to work with his brothers at Jacuzzi Brothers, Inc. located in Berkeley, CA where they manufactured water well pumps and eventually, the bath and spa that bears their name. The Jacuzzi Family Vineyards wine-making story properly begins with Fred Cline founding Cline Cellars near Oakley, California and, in 1991, the winery was relocated to the Carneros region of Sonoma, Calif. In 1994 the first Jacuzzi Family Vineyards wine was produced. This wine is almost entirely crafted from grapes grown at the Jacuzzi Estate Ranch located in the fog and wind-cooled southern Sonoma Carneros growing region. These vineyard blocks range from gentle slopes to flat land – with soils varying from deep, gravelly loams to shallow (less than 18 inches) clay and loam. Grapes are handpicked and de-stemmed without crushing. This gentle handling minimizes extraction of the bitter elements in the seeds and stems. Grapes are pumped to a stainless tank and inoculated with a pure strain of wine yeast. Fermentation temperature is controlled at a maximum of 85 degrees and the wine is pressed at dryness. Malolactic fermentation is completed in the primary fermenting tank. The wine is then racked and moved to barrels (approximately 30% new French and American oak) and aged for 18 months. Careful handling, from the vineyard through fermentation brings out the wine’s complex layers and silky tannins.

Tasting Notes: Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Merlot is a taste of chocolate and flavors of juicy cherries is followed by a hint of green olives.

 
     

Enter your e-mail address and click the button to opt into the Fareham Wine Cellar mailing list: