Established in 1969, back when Napa had only a few wineries, Cuvaison produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown exclusively on its estate vineyard in the heart of the world-renown region of Carneros in Napa Valley. Cooled by fog from the San Pablo Bay, the rolling hills of this certified sustainable estate has produced distinctive Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for over 30 years. Cuvaison produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that the estate designated as Small Lots from the Tai Estate Vineyard and small production Mico Lots from Sun Case, Dutton Ranch, Fiddlestix, Laguna, Gaps Crown and UV Vineyards. Cuvaison has been profoundly influenced by their owners, the Schmidheiny family of Switzerland—fourth-generation vintners who purchased the winery in 1979. Since the beginning they have been dedicated to a philosophy of producing vineyard-driven wines. Cuvaison employs block by block farming methods and a hand-crafted vineyard-to-bottle winemaking approach, resulting in wines that are balanced and complex, showcasing the distinctive characteristics of this cool climate estate.

In early issues of Chicago Wine Press, Cuvaison has long been a part of our journey in tasting great wines from California. The consistency in quality by Winemaker Steve Rogstad and his winemaking team is noteworthy. In the glass the wine opens with rich deep garnet. The aromas are distinctive and delightful with dark berries, a whiff of rose petals, earthiness of mushroom and forest floor. The palate is layered with fruit flavors, a velvety texture, and touches of baking spice. The acidity is persistent through the palate and finishes fresh, juicy and long. The Cuvasion Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir is a very limited production and available only through the winery. It is beautiful in its youth, but will certainly age gracefully for years to come.

By Perry Miroballi