2024 The Farmer's Wine

Winemaker: Kelly Mason
Varietals: 100% Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Mason Vineyard and Edgerock
Viticultural Appellation: Twenty Mile Bench

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Alcohol : 12.%
Residual Sugar :  0g/L
Traditional Method
One year on lees

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WINEMAKER JOURNAL / NOTES:  The Story Behind the Blend

A lot of the magic in winemaking comes down to logistics. Logistics breeds problem solving, which in winemaking, we sometimes call creativity.

You can plan every detail, every technique, every intention, but sometimes, it’s as simple as tank space. In 2024, we had more Outlier Cabernet Sauvignon than would fit, so Brooke made the call: press it early and turn it into a sparkling red.

That decision meant a late night, just the two of us, emptying and cleaning the press. It also meant committing, fully, to the fun of trying something new.

All the green tape cellar stickers simply read: Lambo. We call it now The Farmer's Wine - because that is often what Lambrusco is referred to.

The idea came from the reality of harvest and the fact that I love a dry sparkling red. Quick meals, rustic, and improvised, dishes like pasta, burgers, barbecue, or, more often than not, pizza ordered straight to the cellar. We still want a glass of wine with it, but not something heavy or precious. Something bright, simple, and alive. Something with bubbles.

That’s where the inspiration landed: A Lambrusco-style. Dry, structured, and food-friendly, none of the sweetness, all of the energy.

What started as a practical decision quickly became serious. We sorted out underripe fruit, pressed early, and leaned into the process with intention: traditional method, extended care, and even reincorporating lees and tannins from the original Outlier lot to build structure.

In the end, it worked. And in the end, I love this wine! A bone-dry sparkling Cabernet Sauvignon, built for long summer days, late nights, and the kind of meals that don’t wait.

Sometimes, the unplanned wines are the ones that make the most sense.

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PRICE: $42