If you are looking for a new California wine to try that will give you great value for your money, check out the unique varietals from Cline Cellars. Located in the Sonoma County region, Cline is producing some of the best wine coming out of California at reasonable prices. They have been successfully creating styles reminiscent of the Rhone Valley, from Syrah, Viognier and Mourvèdre, to prize-winning Zinfandels since 1982, and make it a point to practice green agriculture. “Cline Cellars farms the Green String way - naturally and sustainably.”
Two for the Road
Two of the noble varietals that Cline does best are Syrah and Zinfandel. Syrah, grown in the northern Rhone, produces some of the world’s most coveted wine. Also known as Shiraz, wines produced from the Syrah grape are named as much in France and the United States, whereas Shiraz is the more common name used for the grape in Australia and New Zealand.
Zinfandel has received a misconception surrounding it’s true nature due to the popular White Zinfandel rosé wines, so much so that many are unaware of the ‘original’ Zinfandel that is in fact a dark, plum-coloured red wine. Ranging from light and fruity to bold and heady, drinking a Zinfandel wine, especially one from California, is an undertaking that will not disappoint.
Wine on a Budget
If you are on a budget and looking for a unique wine for a gift, or even as a staple to keep around the house, Cline's Syrah, at $14.95 CAD a bottle will not disappoint. Smooth in the mouth with a medium finish and earthy hints of violets, black pepper and leather, this wine is a true gem. Matched with anything from aged cheddar cheese to steak au poivre or even blueberry cheesecake, the wine’s nuances continually reveal themselves.
If you are looking for a bolder wine with a noble pedigree, Cline offers their line of Ancient Vines, grown in their Oakley vineyard and featuring vines dating back more than one hundred years (www.clinecellars.com). The 2005 Ancient Vines Zinfandel is a powerhouse of flavour that does not stray from the traditional notes of blackberry, coffee and spice along with a hint of vanilla and marjoram from oak barrel aging. This wine, at $19.95 CAD a bottle pairs well with anything from barbecued steak and grilled vegetables to creamy pasta carbonara with crusty garlic-butter baguette.
It isn’t any wonder then that Cline has moved from California and throughout the United States, to Canada, Europe, Asia and South America. The only question that remains: What’s next?
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