Region: Mendocino County, California, USA
Grapes: Arneis, Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo
Body: Light
Notes: Bright cranberries, tart wild raspberries, clementine peel, kiwi, dried thyme, and subtle baking spices with a lively carbonic zip and a crunchy, thirst-quenching finish
Pairing: Margherita pizza, continuous charcuterie boards, pork belly tacos, grilled salmon, or street-style tacos
The Producer
Ruth Lewandowski Wines is an iconic, deeply revered pillar of the American natural wine movement, founded and crafted by Evan Lewandowski. While the project originally gained fame for shipping pristine Northern California grapes all the way to Utah for vinification, Evan eventually relocated his entire operation directly to Mendocino County. Named as a nod to the Biblical Book of Ruth—which speaks to cycles of regeneration and new life—Evan’s philosophy revolves around absolute transparency and respect for living soil. Working intimately with uniquely planted, holistically farmed sites like the legendary Fox Hill Vineyard on Mendocino's Talmage Bench, Evan operates on a strict "zero-zero" framework: using only wild yeasts, avoiding all chemical inputs, skipping temperature manipulation, and bottling unfined, unfiltered, and completely sulfur-free.
The Wine
The 2024 "Feints Cuvée Zero" is a quintessential benchmark of modern California chillable reds, built around a wild, field-blend co-fermentation of Northern Italian varieties. Evan harvests both white (Arneis, Vermentino, Trebbiano) and red (Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Grignolino) grapes simultaneously from Fox Hill, throwing them all whole-cluster into a tank for a short 10-day carbonic maceration. This passive extraction method draws out vivid translucent color, exotic floral aromatics, and popping fruit character while keeping heavy tannins completely at bay. Pressed into neutral polyethylene tanks and stainless steel to mature before being bottled zero-zero, the 2024 vintage is an absolute masterclass in drinkability; it brilliantly pairs a mouthwatering core of tart forest berries and citrus zest with a crunchy, electric acidity and a savory herbal edge that begs for a deep chill.
Region: Mendocino County, California, USA
Grapes: Arneis, Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo
Body: Light
Notes: Bright cranberries, tart wild raspberries, clementine peel, kiwi, dried thyme, and subtle baking spices with a lively carbonic zip and a crunchy, thirst-quenching finish
Pairing: Margherita pizza, continuous charcuterie boards, pork belly tacos, grilled salmon, or street-style tacos
The Producer
Ruth Lewandowski Wines is an iconic, deeply revered pillar of the American natural wine movement, founded and crafted by Evan Lewandowski. While the project originally gained fame for shipping pristine Northern California grapes all the way to Utah for vinification, Evan eventually relocated his entire operation directly to Mendocino County. Named as a nod to the Biblical Book of Ruth—which speaks to cycles of regeneration and new life—Evan’s philosophy revolves around absolute transparency and respect for living soil. Working intimately with uniquely planted, holistically farmed sites like the legendary Fox Hill Vineyard on Mendocino's Talmage Bench, Evan operates on a strict "zero-zero" framework: using only wild yeasts, avoiding all chemical inputs, skipping temperature manipulation, and bottling unfined, unfiltered, and completely sulfur-free.
The Wine
The 2024 "Feints Cuvée Zero" is a quintessential benchmark of modern California chillable reds, built around a wild, field-blend co-fermentation of Northern Italian varieties. Evan harvests both white (Arneis, Vermentino, Trebbiano) and red (Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Grignolino) grapes simultaneously from Fox Hill, throwing them all whole-cluster into a tank for a short 10-day carbonic maceration. This passive extraction method draws out vivid translucent color, exotic floral aromatics, and popping fruit character while keeping heavy tannins completely at bay. Pressed into neutral polyethylene tanks and stainless steel to mature before being bottled zero-zero, the 2024 vintage is an absolute masterclass in drinkability; it brilliantly pairs a mouthwatering core of tart forest berries and citrus zest with a crunchy, electric acidity and a savory herbal edge that begs for a deep chill.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.