Wine

Herzog Variations Oak is a special wine series that journeys beyond the variations of California wine country, and into the Battle of the Barrels. We start with North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon separated into two different types of oak barrels and see which one will come out on top. Oak barrels are a winemaker's spice rack, allowing them to vary the color, flavor, profile and texture of the wine.

This wine Herzog Special Reserve Quartet is a blend of 36% Petit Verdot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec and 15% Zinfandel. Opens with notes of dark cherries, blueberries, and a mouthful of spice and vanilla, complemented by lengthy, developed tannins, finishing with a hint of dark chocolate.

Red C Sauvignon Blanc dry Creek Valley Sonoma County Allan Nelson Vineyard - This limited production Sauvignon Blanc honors traditions both old and new. Sauvignon Blanc comes from a region in Northern California where Sauvignon Blanc is considered the king of white wines.

Very unique Herzog creation as the winery took some of their best Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and aged them exclusively on French oak that imparts flavors of vanilla and chocolate and even some clove and spice. This wine is intended to highlight the characteristics of French oak versus the American oak bottle Herzog also created.

This wine opens with rich aromas of blackberry jam, cassis and mocha with hints of sandalwood and vanilla. On the palate, concentrated flavors of cherry and spice combine with velvety tannins and subtle notes of leather over a lasting finish.

For over 35 years, the Herzog and Watts families have worked together to grow spectacular Zinfandel in the Mokelumne River region of Lodi. This Zinfandel is crafted from vines up to 80 years old, capturing intense flavors and rich texture. The wine is balanced and not overly sweet, a style modeled after some of the most historic Late Harvest wines of France.

Covenant’s Israeli winery started making Viognier from the Galilee in 2017 under the BLUE C label. It inspired us to see what a California Viognier could deliver using the same production methods. Covenant RED C Viognier comes from the same vineyard in Lodi, CA, that produces our Mensch Roussanne grapes. (Both Viognier and Roussanne are best known as French Rhone varietals.)

For six generations, the Herzog family produced award winning, quality wines in their native Czechoslovakia. Since moving to the United States in 1948, that tradition has continued under the seventh and eighth generations, with a commitment to excellence undiminished by time.

The grapes for the Herzog Late Harvest Chenin Blanc were harvested from the Ehrhardt block of the Herzog Vineyard in California. These grapes were harvested very late in the season to provide a uniquely luscious Late Harvest wine characteristic.

Dignitary Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from grapes grown at the base of Chalk Hill, where a slightly warmer climate and rich volcanic soils create ideal conditions for the clone. The wine is aged unfiltered for 18 months in French oak barrels. On the palate, luscious aromas of dark fruit leading to elegant layers of blackberry, black cherry and hints of spice and warm saddle leather on the nose, with a lasting and well balanced finish.

The vines for Dignitary Pinot Noir are heavily influenced by the Petaluma Gap which is a wind gap named after a coastal mountain opening that stretches east from the Pacific. This, combined with maritime breezes, keep day-time temperatures low, creating the perfect environment for growing Pinot Noir. The wine is aged unfiltered for 10 months in 100% French oak barrels. The result is an elegant expression of red and black fruit with subtle hints of spice.