Enjoy a big, bold glass of red? How about a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon made from the region’s finest grapes?
If so, you don’t have to buy a California-made wine; it’s being produced right here on Vancouver’s north shore!
California Cult Classics is pretty much exactly what it says on the bottle: a Napa Valley winery making cult wines. Grapes come from some of Napa’s top vineyards including those tended by the legendary Andy Beckstoffer. Many of these same grapes are used by prestigious Napa Valley producers such as Schrader, Beringer, Stag’s Leap and Duckhorn.
Pretty neat, eh? But what’s even neater is that California Cult Classics is a members-only U-Vin facility where you can get involved in the wine making process. Another benefit to its U-Vin status: none of those hefty liquor taxes. California Cult Classics makes wines for around $40/bottle (you purchase by the quarter, half or full barrel).
So you’ve got great grapes but that’s just one part of the top quality wine equation. This is where Frank, Kelly and sophisticated wine making equipment come into play. Frank Gigliotti, the winery’s proprietor has been making oustanding wines for 26 vintages. Alongside Frank you’ll find Kelly Symonds who’s been with the winery since 2008. Kelly brings valuable experience as former winemaker for the Okanagan’s Hillside Estates winery. She also contributes a strong scientific background, having earned her degree in enology from the University of Adelaide in Australia.
Then you’ve got the equipment and materials used to make the wine. Fermentation takes place in climate-controlled steel tanks. All wines are aged in custom-toasted Seguin Moreau oak barrels that are only used once. Bottling takes place on an $83,000 nitrogen-injecting machine. No expense is spared in the making of these amazing wines.
Impressive credentials aside, everyone here at Blue Grouse is a huge fan of this winery and is happy to sing its praises.
Interested in learning about the opportunity of membership with California Cult Classics? Let us know. We are happy to arrange tours, and of course, come along for the tasting 