The Promise of a New Vintage: 2026 Futures Club Release
There
is something special about this time of year in Dry Creek Valley. The
cellar is quiet, the vines are stretching toward summer, and
conversations naturally turn toward the future - both in the vineyard
and in the bottle. We’re delighted to have you as a Futures Club
member. What a unique opportunity for both of us to relish and have a
vested interest in the growing season ahead!
While harvest is
still months away, every vintage begins long before the grapes reach
the crush pad. This year, those moments arrived early. March
brought an unusual stretch of warm weather to wine country. Both Dave
and Catarino, who have been managing the crop and vineyard for more
than 45 and 25 years, respectively, remarked on how quickly the
vineyard seemed to awaken. Buds that typically lingered in dormancy
appeared eager to greet the season, setting the stage for a very
promising growing season. Of course, every year brings its own
surprises and we’re sure there will be a few along the way. But, if
anything, experience has taught us that patience remains one of a
vintner's greatest virtues and at the same time, we’re optimistic about
the quality and character the 2026 vintage may ultimately deliver. With
that in mind, we’re pleased to announce the release of our 2026 Futures
Program, offering an early opportunity to secure wines from what is
already shaping up to be an exciting vintage. For members who prefer a
ready-made order, we’ve assembled a pre-selected mix of eight of our
most popular and consistently sought-after wines: Aca Modot, Block 4,
Carignan, Dave’s Cuvee, Estate Cuvee, Italiano, Petite Sirah, and our
century-old Zinfandel. If you enjoy building your own collection, you
may choose from these 8 wines as well as 16 additional red and white
wines from the 2026 vintage. Whether you prefer the convenience of a
curated selection or the fun of choosing your own favorites, we invite
you to explore the additional options below and decide which ones you’d
like to follow on their journey from vineyard to bottle.
WHITE WINES
Chardonnay
- 100% Chardonnay. Our third vintage will be aged 10 months exclusively
in mixed oak barrels to deliver layers of butterscotch, vanilla bean,
and baked pear, all wrapped up with a creamy, full-bodied velvety
mouthfeel. We expect to bottle and release this wine in
approximately August of 2027.
Luminaire – Back by Popular
Demand for 2026! This new vintage will consist predominantly of Sauv
Blanc blended with Viognier, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling - It will be
aged primarily in stainless steel, with a short time in oak barrels to
soften and enhance the flavor profile.
Viognier - 100%
Viognier. Ours will be full-bodied, lush and bursting with those
signature floral aromatics, spicy undertones, and savory herbal layers.
Despite its aroma, we will produce a dry Viognier.
OTHER RED BLENDS
Block 6 Zin - A blend of young but
well-established Zinfandel vines, with Petite Sirah added for
structure, color and complexity. The combination of these two hallmark
varieties creates a robust wine, with a deep dark hue and an opaque
ruby color indicative of its intense full-bodied flavors.
Escuro
- Escuro translates as "dark" in Portuguese, and is a blend
of: Alvarelhao and Souzao (Portuguese), Aglianico and
Lagrein (Italian), and Tannat (French). The darkest varieties we
grow, this blend is always rich and brooding, with an earthy structure
and finishes with complex integrated tannins.
My Zin - Dave's
preferred way to drink Zin - an estate grown blend of old-vine
Zinfandel, with varying percentages of Petite Sirah and Cabernet for
color and complexity.
Super Tuscan Style - Led by the
traditional Super Tuscan varietals of Sangiovese & Cab, we
are expecting a complex wine with dark fruit flavors, a sturdy texture
and powerful finish. This blend will embody our philosophy of crafting
bold, rule-defying wines.
Terre Melange - This
Rhone-style blend is our take on a "GSM" and it features Grenache,
Syrah, Mourvedre, Peloursin and sometimes Carignan. The floral and
fruity Grenache is complemented by the darker, brooding flavors of
Syrah and Mourvedre, with Peloursin as a mysterious wild card component.
ZP2C
- ZP2C is a true expression of our vineyard's diversity, crafted from
the 25+ different red grape varieties grown and produced on our
property, with Zinfandel leading the charge. Each barrel is
racked for clarity and then given additional time in well seasoned
barrels before bottling.
OTHER RED VARIETALS
Aglianico -
Aglianico, a grape native to the Campania region of Italy, our 100%
varietal has aggressive big fruit up front, typically with hints of
leather and savory herbs on the finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon -
100% Cabernet from clones 337 and 341. We expect vibrant fruit and
well-integrated tannins, with a balance of power and finesse, making it
a wine to enjoy young, yet having the structure to age for 10-15 years,
evolving with further complexity over time.
Grenache - 100%
Grenache, planted in our vineyard from local cuttings in 2008. Although
we also use our Grenache grapes for blending, this single varietal
showcases the freshness of the fruit with lively acidity that keeps it
food friendly.
Lagrein - 100% Lagrein, an ancient grape
variety most widely grown in the Alto Adige region of northeastern
Italy. This unique varietal with its big bold and dark fruit boasts
some earthy, leathery qualities with hints of sweetness, though
fermented completely dry.
Nebbiolo - Following on the heels of
our ‘25 Nebbiolo, this 100% estate grown varietal delivers flavors of
tart cherries with soft vanilla tones from influence of oak barrels,
supported by firm tannins and bright acidity.
Pinot Noir -
100% Pinot Noir, our estate grown Pinot Noir is from a darker more
intense clone than Pinot grown in cooler climates. This medium-bodied
wine is typically rich, spicy, warm and dry on the palate.
Sagrantino
- 100% Sagrantino. An Italian red grape variety most famously grown in
the Umbria region of central Italy, featuring a bold, tannic structure.
Warm days, cool nights and well-drained soils ripens our estate grown
fruit into a rich, velvety and powerful distintive varietal with
age-worthy potential.