From The winemaker – The art & soul of our califa wines
Our Califa journey began with a handpicked barrel selection, but its soul is all about the tales and traditions of our region. Are you familiar with the term, ‘Califa’? Local lore suggests that it was a designation by the area’s indigenous inhabitants, signifying “the most beautiful one.” Our 2021 Califa Pinot Noir and 2021 Califa Chardonnay are distinguished as outstanding expressions of some of our most treasured sites within our estate vineyard.
Our Pinot Noir has a unique bond with the Tierra Sandy Loam soil – a sandy loam with significant amounts of calcareous shale. This distinctive soil pushes our vines to give their best. The result are grapes with great acidity and intensity of flavor. Much of the Pinot Noir fruit for our Califa bottling comes from the eastern slopes of our famed Morrito block so it shares some of the characteristics of our flagship Pinot: Morrito Pinot Noir. We also blend in fruit from some of the best Pinot Noir blocks on the northern edge of our property to make this wine a little more forward and open. We are crafting a wine that is the best combination of power and pleasure.
Meanwhile, our Califa Chardonnay has its own story to tell. Grown on the northern edge of our estate vineyards, abundant in loamy, calcareous gravel, these vines come into their own a bit faster, delivering flavors that leave a mark. We pair this with longer time in barrel and a slightly higher percentage of new oak to balance the power of the grapes. It’s a Chardonnay that both delights and ages gracefully.
Every time you taste, we hope you connect with the stories, the artistry, and the heart that shapes our Califa wines. Cheers to memorable moments with Chamisal wine!
Please enjoy!
-Brianne
