Gros Ventre High Country Red Red Wine California 2019

ACME has been discovering new brands for 18 years now! And there is nothing more gratifying than seeing a brand that we first debuted a decade ago continue to grow and thrive within this industry. 

Gros Ventre first came onto our radar back in 2009 when Chris Pittenger and his wife Sarah launched their debut vintage. Since then, the wine has garnered heaps of acclaim and amassed fans all over the country but has always remained close to our hearts at ACME. It all started when Chris left his sommelier gig in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to dive head-first into the production side of the wine world. Starting first at Robert Biale Winery, he then joined the Williams-Selyem winemaking team after deciding to fully immerse himself into the wonderful, finicky world of Pinot Noir. Ultimately, Chris studied under the legendary Helen Turley at Marcassin Estate, home to arguably the most coveted Pinot Noirs made in this hemisphere, before launching his very own brand, Gros Ventre. The name pulls double duty: Gros Ventre, which translates to ‘big belly’ in French, is the name of a river near Jackson Hole and was also Chris’ affectionate nickname for his wife, Sarah, who was carrying their first child at the time of the brand’s debut release. Ten years later, with child number two and a dog gained, Chris and his wife Sarah have continued to deliver some of the most delightful wines that have ever graced the ACME Wall of Wine. 

We are thrilled to present the High Country Red - a quaffable, juicy blend of 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Gamay. This type of blend is known in Burgundy as ‘passe-tout-grains’, which loosely translates to “throw it all in.” And the spirit of this laidback nickname certainly translates to the palate of this wine! The fruit was fermented with native yeasts, as all fermentations go in the Gros Ventre cellar. Once fermentation was complete, the wine was aged for 10 months in neutral barrel - just long enough for the nervy, high acid nature of the Gamay to mellow perfectly. What results is a wine that is oh-so-fresh on the palate with loads of dark cherry, rhubarb, and strawberry. As soon as the fruit falls to the wayside, the more elusive qualities of the wine begin to show, and the palate turns a bit earthy with notes of oolong tea, lilac, bright red currants, and fresh herbal accents of crushed thyme leaves and summer savory. We can’t think of a bottle more ideal for casual drinking on a summer day! Take this bottle to your next outdoor hang and enjoy alongside a corn and feta salad dressed with lime and mint.