EmmaLily Vineyards
A family-run boutique in the Uvas Valley
NINE LITER Laura and Steve Petersen of EmmaLily Vineyards beside a bottle of their finest, packaged in a huge bottle called a salmanazar, which holds an entire case of wine. Photo: Bev Stenehjem
As Steve wrote my name on a wine glass, he explained his winemaking philosophy: “I use the same grapes from the same vineyard, but by varying the winemaking process I can make completely different wines. I blend wines fermented with different yeasts to give each wine a unique profile.”
The Madeline Cabernet ($75), made from 100-percent Cabernet grapes and three different yeasts, is a jammy treat, tasting of black cherries with a slight hint of cocoa on the finish. Cosmo’s Passion Cabernet ($85), an estate wine with two different yeasts, is a beautiful garnet—drier and more complex.
I especially enjoyed the spicy, earthiness of the Vingolo Vineyards Cabernet ($200), made from 100-percent Lake County Cabernet grapes and two different yeasts. Laura’s Love Cabernet ($250), made from four yeasts, is the richest of the wines and bursting with blackberry flavors. Vanilla tones and earthy cocoa linger on in the long, smooth finish.
The wines’ high price-points reflect the intensive time and labor that go into the process of using multiple yeasts—but the prices are more than offset by the quality and complexity of these outstanding, Napa-style Cabernets.
- Food at your front door – November 30, 2017
- Jammy Trio – November 8, 2017
- Dine-in bar – November 5, 2017
