Summer wine for summer outdoor grill dinner
A typical summer dinner, grilling hot dogs, served with sweet corn and potato salad. We opened a crisp summertime Benessere Napa Valley Rose’ wine as a refreshing accompaniment.
I wrote about Rose’ and it’s popularity as a summer refreshment in a recent blogpost - Château d’Aqueria Tavel Southern Côtes du Rhône Rose’.
This is from Benessere Winery in north Napa Valley, just off Hwy 29 between St Helena and Calistoga. The historic property dates back to the 1920s and 30s when it was a cattle ranch, then a dairy farm, and then was converted into a thoroughbred horse ranch in the 1960s.
In the mid-70s, new owners took over the property and planted the estate ‘Black Glass Vineyard’, named for fragments of obsidian found on the property. Historically, local Native American tribe used obsidian found on the property to make arrowheads and tools.
The property was purchased in 1994 by John and Ellen Benish of nearby westcrn Chicago suburb of Hinsdale.
The created their “Italy in Napa” estate and named their winery ‘Benessere’ , an Italian word meaning “well-being” or “living the good life”, because it embodies everything they fell in love with on a trip to Italy in the late 1980s. It reflects their dedication to a wine country lifestyle combining wonderful wine with warm, welcoming hospitality.
They proceeded to restore the vineyards, winery, and residence.
We visited the winery and vineyards during our Napa Valley Wine Experience trip back in 2018 - (https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/07/napa-valley-wine-experience-2018.html.)
In line with their inspiration and love of Italy and Italian wines, they planted the vineyards with classic Italian grape varietals including Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Pinot Grigio, Primitivo, Aglianico, and Sagrantino. They also planted non-Italian varietals traditional to Napa Valley such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Additionally, they introduced varietals like Vermentino, Falanghina, Nero d’Avola, and Teroldego,
They produced their first vintage in 1995, a Sangiovese varietal wine. Since that inaugural vintage, they have continually added other Italian varietals to their portfolio – Pinot Grigio, Vermentino, Falanghina, Teroldego, Nero d’Avola, Primitivo, Montepulciano, Sagrantino and Aglianico.
They also produce a “Super Tuscan” style blend called ‘Phenomenon’ as well as two American grape varietal Zinfandels – one from their ‘Black Glass Vineyard’, the other from the historic 100 year old ‘Collins Holystone Vineyard’ adjacent to the estate.
Benessere Napa Valley St Helena Aglianico Rosato di Aglianico 2023
This is composed of 100% Aglianico sourced from the Benessere Estate Vineyard in St. Helena
Winemaker’s Notes - “Vintners the valley over are raising a glass to the 2023 vintage as one of the best ever for both reds and whites. Winemakers believe that the abundance of rainfall and a lengthy growing season contributed to some truly incredible fruit being produced. Cheers and glasses clinking were heard earlier this season for the 2023 harvest, back when only a select few knew just how amazing it was going to be.”“The strategy of creating our Aglianico Rosato is planning a 2–3-week early harvest for these grapes. This timing captures the vibrancy and liveliness that encapsulates our Rosato. Gentle pressing draws out the lovely juice that is the keystone of this wine. The fermentation is gradual, done at cool temperatures to ensure the wine's brilliant aromatics remain intact.”
Tasting notes - “Its austere and refreshingly dry profile, from the delicate aromas of nectarines, peaches, bubblegum, raspberries, and seashell to the vibrant acidity and explosive palate bursting with tart cherry and strawberry. the lingering presence of noticeable tannins—a rare characteristic in Rosato wines.” - Matt Reid, Winemaker
RM 90 points.
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