Region: Central Coast, California, USA
Grapes: Grenache Noir, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir
Body: Medium
Notes: Marionberry, black cherry, ripe raspberry, hibiscus, and white pepper, with beet and rhubarb undertones and a savory, mineral finish
Pairing: Grilled meats, roast duck, mushroom dishes, or serve lightly chilled for warm-weather sipping
The Producer
Tessier Winery is the work of Kristie Tacey, a former research scientist who traded a career studying protein pathways for handcrafted small-lot winemaking in the San Francisco Bay Area. Drawing on her love of Burgundy, the Loire, and the Rhône, Tacey sources fruit from a tight network of growers across Anderson Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Arroyo Seco, and the El Dorado foothills, then lets minimal-intervention technique and native fermentation do the talking in the cellar.
The Wine
"Day Dreaming," a tribute to Aretha Franklin's song of the same name, blends Grenache Noir, Gamay Noir, and a splash of Pinot Noir, each fermented separately with native yeast before 17 months in neutral French oak (the Gamay partly in stainless steel). Bottled unfined and unfiltered, the 2024 pours a magenta red with burgundy hues and opens with marionberry, black cherry, beet, and white pepper, layered over pomegranate, rhubarb, and a saline, clay-like finish.
Region: Central Coast, California, USA
Grapes: Grenache Noir, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir
Body: Medium
Notes: Marionberry, black cherry, ripe raspberry, hibiscus, and white pepper, with beet and rhubarb undertones and a savory, mineral finish
Pairing: Grilled meats, roast duck, mushroom dishes, or serve lightly chilled for warm-weather sipping
The Producer
Tessier Winery is the work of Kristie Tacey, a former research scientist who traded a career studying protein pathways for handcrafted small-lot winemaking in the San Francisco Bay Area. Drawing on her love of Burgundy, the Loire, and the Rhône, Tacey sources fruit from a tight network of growers across Anderson Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Arroyo Seco, and the El Dorado foothills, then lets minimal-intervention technique and native fermentation do the talking in the cellar.
The Wine
"Day Dreaming," a tribute to Aretha Franklin's song of the same name, blends Grenache Noir, Gamay Noir, and a splash of Pinot Noir, each fermented separately with native yeast before 17 months in neutral French oak (the Gamay partly in stainless steel). Bottled unfined and unfiltered, the 2024 pours a magenta red with burgundy hues and opens with marionberry, black cherry, beet, and white pepper, layered over pomegranate, rhubarb, and a saline, clay-like finish.
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.