IT’S HARVEST TIME IN NAPA VALLEY

With this September release, we welcome our busiest time of the year! The first Sauvignon Blanc grapes arrived on Wednesday, August 17th and were greeted with tremendous enthusiasm from the entire team, kicking off the 2022 Harvest with a Solstice Sparkling Wine toast (see photo above). The grapes in the foreground are from Bentz Vineyard in Pope Valley.

In addition to harvest, September marks the beginning of the holiday season — look for our Holiday Gift Guide in your wine box and check out the video below to help you get your holiday shopping started.

For those of you who are planning to visit the Napa Valley before the end of the year, there are still a few seats available for our annual Profile Release and Brunch on October 8th and the Holiday Dinner on December 10th.

As always, we invite you to send us ideas for topics you would find interesting. Please contact us at WineClub@Merryvale.com.


THERE ARE ONLY A FEW SPOTS REMAINING FOR OUR ANNUAL PROFILE BRUNCH & RELEASE PARTY
Join us on Saturday, October 8th from 11am to 3pm… Explore our beautiful estate vineyard where we will showcase the newly released 2019 Profile alongside a festive brunch created by Chef Nash Cognetti of Tre Posti. Space is very limited, and we will sell out, so make sure to reserve your space. For more information please contact Events Manager Casey Curiel at (707) 968-3429 or email ccuriel@merryvale.com for assistance or you can click here to make your reservations online.

NAPA’S 2022 VINTAGE — COULD IT BE THE BEST EVER?
As we approach the fall season, we are happy to report that we have experienced a mild summer with slight cooling over the last few weeks that has created ideal growing conditions at our Profile Estate Vineyard. It’s an exciting time to be a Napa Winemaker! Hear firsthand from Merryvale Winemaker Andrew Wright about preparing for the 2022 vintage in this short video from a lovely day in early August:

THE LATEST FROM THE MERRYVALE CELLAR:  CONCRETE TANKS PRODUCE AMAZING WINES!
If you are looking for gift ideas for that special winemaker in your life, a concrete fermentation vessel is always a great choice. Andrew must have been very good this year because he just received TWO 800-gallon tanks from Sonoma Cast Stone! See why he’s so excited to put our new concrete tanks to work in the cellar in this video:

Thai and Chantelle at this years lobster feed
MEET THE MERRYVALE WINE CLUB TEAM:
Thai Luong, Wine Club Manager
Thai joined the Merryvale team in the fall of 2019 as our Wine Club Coordinator and exactly one year later he took the helm as Wine Club Manager! He has worked in wine logistics and club management since moving from the East Bay to the Napa Valley in 2016. Prior to moving to wine country, Thai had a much less wine-centric career working for Homeland Security and serving in the U.S. Army. Lucky for us, his budding passion for the fermented grape could not be ignored. To say that Thai loves wine is an understatement. The same can be said about his love for hiking, the Golden State Warriors and spending time with his wife and Bruno—the handsomest dog ever! If you’ve had the pleasure of engaging with Thai over the phone, at wine club events or via email, you understand why we are thrilled to have him managing our Wine Clubs. If you haven’t already interacted with Thai, we would encourage you to do so. His love and knowledge of Merryvale wines is impressive and he is at-the-ready for any questions or concerns regarding your membership.

Chantelle Fourie, Wine Club Coordinator
Chantelle joined the Merryvale Events Team four years ago, and in January of 2021 she transitioned into the vital role of Wine Club Coordinator. Having worked in the service industry for two decades, Chantelle is a true hospitality expert. Her days at Merryvale are filled with Club Member calls and emails, order fulfillment and shipping facilitation. It’s a big job, and she is just the dynamo to get it done and done right! When not at the winery, Chantelle can be found enjoying a glass of Pinot Noir in the company of friends and family. Although she enjoys her true crime podcasts and the occasional trip to the golf course, her biggest passion in life is being a mom to her two-year-old daughter, Shiloh.

LET US HELP YOU FIND THAT PERFECT (AND PERFECTLY CELLARED) BOTTLE
Enjoy this video featuring Merryvale Proprietor Laurence Schlatter who provides a quick tour of our Wine Library and tells us about gift options for the upcoming holiday season. In this special corner of our tasting room, you’ll find an array of Merryvale and Profile Collection wines from a selection of vintages and several formats. Hear about gift options for the upcoming holiday season:

IN THIS SHIPMENT…
YOUR FALL WINE CLUB RELEASES

Your membership wine preferences determine which of these wines you will receive.
bottle of wine
Solstice Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine
Sourced from the Napa side of the Carneros AVA, primarily from our Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard, this is our first ever Brut Rosé release featuring floral notes of carnation and rose water braced by hints of strawberry, watermelon and fresh ginger with hazelnut adding an alluring complexity and depth.
Food Pairing:  Enjoy this Brut Rosé with crispy Crab Cakes.
Ageability:   Enjoy for the next 5 to 7 years.
bottle of red wine
2019 Pinot Noir, Stanly Ranch Estate, Carneros
This is a stunningly gorgeous example of a New World Pinot crafted with an Old World approach. Aromas of Ranier cherry and rhubarb mingle with baking spices and the freshness of forest floor.
Food Pairing:  Our Stanly Ranch Estate Pinot Noir will pair well with Pan-Seared Duck Breast and an assortment of your favorite roasted root vegetables.
Ageability:   Enjoy this wine over the next 10 years.


2019 Merlot, Napa Valley

From the volcanic soils of Coombsville and Carneros in southern Napa where Merlot is at its best—soft, dark, spicy and fragrant. The wine is incredibly soft and pretty, with a balanced acidity.
Food Pairing:   Pair this Napa Merlot with Grilled Lamb Chops or a Vegetable Cassoulet with Beans and Spinach.
Ageability:   With proper cellaring, this wine will drink beautifully for the next 10 years.
wine bottle
2019 Petit Verdot, Saint Helena, Napa Valley
An aromatic adventure through purple fruits, violets, and baking spices leads to a gorgeously round and satisfying mouthfeel. Constantly evolving, the wine has a refined balance and surprising freshness.
Food Pairing:   Our Petit Verdot will pair well with Moroccan Chickpea Stew.
Ageability:   With proper cellaring, this wine will drink beautifully for the next 10+ years.
wine bottle
2016 Chairman’s Selection Red Wine, Napa Valley
The Chairman’s Selection showcases mountain vineyards and the incredible character that they produce—wines with intensity and power. We look for depth and structure that is worthy of this special bottling.
Food Pairing:   Enjoy this Chairman’s Selection with Cherry and Cabernet Braised Short Ribs.
Ageability:   With proper cellaring, this wine will drink beautifully for the next 15-20 years.

User Choice Wines:

2019 Chardonnay, Hyde Vineyard, Carneros
It’s an immensely satisfying Chardonnay that evolves and deepens as it opens.
2019 Silhouette Chardonnay, Napa Valley
An elegant, deep acidity sustains the weight and natural lusciousness of the wine.
2018 Malbec, Napa Valley
Tempting aromas of dark red fruits, cocoa and baking spices.
2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Our second bottling of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, sourced from our Profile Estate Vineyard.
2017 Oakville Grade Red Wine, Napa Valley
An explosion of brambly red fruit leads off this multidimensional, intriguing blend.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Gerards paella at harvest party
Our Annual Harvest Party on Sunday, September 25th from 3:00-5:00pm… Be among the first to enjoy new fall releases of Merryvale and Starmont wines with delicious Paella by Gerard’s and live entertainment by the amazing Carlos Herrera Band on the Merryvale terrace. Come out and chat with our Winemakers Andrew Wright and Jeff Crawford who will share their insights into the 2022 harvest.
holiday table setting in Merryvale cask room
Our Annual Holiday Dinner on Saturday, December 10th from 6:00-10:00pm… Join Proprietors René and Laurence Schlatter in Merryvale’s historic Cask Room for a night of elegance and memories. A beautiful dinner will be created by Chef Nash of Tre Posti followed by dancing the night away.

You can get your tickets to our Harvest Party and Holiday Dinner AND find more information about all our events here!

Special Savings on Club Shipment Wines

Don’t forget to take advantage of your discount on case purchases of this shipment’s featured wines through the end of October. Click here to choose your favorites!

Remember to Refer A Friend to our Wine Club… And reap the benefits of our “Merry Messenger” Program! Click here for the details!

Until next time,
The Merryvale Family