Launching our new Wine Collection next week!
Localism Wines was founded in 2010 by winemaker Ryan Knoth. Ryan and his wife Nicole oversee the operations of their tiny brand. Localism is tribute to a lifestyle centered around the connections and the network that Ryan and Nicole have made locally in Napa Valley ranging from vineyard sites, wine suppliers and friends within the industry.
After graduating, he took a harvest intern job in the Barossa Valley in Australia at Elderton Wines in 2010 – while there he was already planning his move to the Napa Valley. He moved to Napa and never left; after returning stateside he worked at St. Clement Vineyards, Staglin Family Vineyard, Gandona, and is currently winemaker at Sinegal Estate Winery.
Over the course of his winemaking career, Ryan has learned from top winemakers including Danielle Cyrot, Philippe Melka and Anthony Biagi. His own style of winemaking focuses on creating balanced food friendly wines – harvesting perhaps a bit earlier than today’s norm – ensuring good acidity, yet also flavor. In summary, harvesting for maturity but not for over ripeness. And during the winemaking as Ryan puts it, “not hiding behind the oak” – carefully adding oak to complement rather than overpowering the wines.
WINES
KERNER, LODI
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The Mokelumne Glen Vineyard in Lodi, located in close proximity to the cool river, is the only source of the rare Kerner grape in California. The Mokelumne River AVA has vineyard sites dating back as far as 1886, consisting mainly of gnarly head-trained Zinfandel vines. Here lies a vineyard with an array of rare Germanic varieties. The soils in this area are Tokay sandy loam- a deep, fertile yet porous soil structure, slightly alkaline, consisting of finely crushed granite accumulated over millions of years of run-off from the Sierra Nevada mountains. This helps maintain vibrant acidity in grapes cultivated in a Mediterranean setting.
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PINOT NOIR, SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
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The Coast Grade vineyard sits at 1300 ft elevation on a southwest facing slope, three miles east of the Pacific Ocean off Hwy 1. Sandy loam soils with limestone underneath contribute to the depth and beautiful minerality of the Pinot Noir fruit that grows there.
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CABERNET SAUVIGNON, COOMBSVILLE
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The 2020 growing season began with a warm and dry winter. Temperatures during spring were mild, and the summer had wonderfully cool mornings, but after multiple wildfires erupted in and around Napa, the vintage came to an abrupt halt. Fortunately, our Coombsville vineyard was harvested in late September before the smoke could be of concern for southern Napa.
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SAUVIGNON BLANC, NAPA VALLEY
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This Sauvignon Blanc entices with aromas of white peach and apricot with hints of honeysuckle nectar. The bright stone fruit flavors on the palate, are balanced with notes of grapefruit and lime, and with a flinty minerality component, is reminiscent in style to a Sancerre. The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc is composed of 100% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Musque clone.
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