Monroy Wines Kick Ranch Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County 2022

You may not know the name Adolfo Hernandez, but you have most certainly been witness to some of his hard work here in the Napa Valley. Over the last 15 years, Adolfo has spent time honing his craft and learning from the very best at Araujo Estate (now known as Eisele Vineyard), Checkerboard Vineyards, and Pahlmeyer before taking the Associate Winemaker position at esteemed Russian River Pinot Noir house, Benovia. We are thrilled to present the debut vintage of Adolfo’s very own Monroy Wines, a stunning Sauvignon Blanc from  Sonoma County. 

Always drawn to science, Adolfo began his career as a chemist in organic pesticide production. After a few years in research and development, he made the switch into winemaking and got his start at Clos du Bois as a laboratory supervisor just before the 2006 vintage. From there, Adolfo was continuously exposed to some of the greatest wine minds in the world. After four years at Araujo Estate where he worked with winemaker Francoise Peschon and vineyard guru Steve Matthiasson, Adolfo went up the hill to Checkerboard Vineyards on Diamond Mountain and studied under Harlan-Alumni, Martha McClellan. Martha’s winemaking style, centered around barrel-fermenting Cabernet grapes in 60-gallon French oak barrels, ignited a spark within Adolfo and the dream of making a wine of his own began to bloom. This tedious, time-consuming, expensive, and laborious detail contributes to the world-class structure of Monroy Wines. 

If you love the esteemed Sauvignon Blanc from Eisele, then this is your opportunity to enjoy a similar style at a fraction of the price! Adolfo took the skills he learned in the cellar at Eisele and has crafted a stunning Sauvignon Blanc that highlights the sometimes polarizing clone of Musque. The fruit is sourced from the Kick Ranch Vineyard in the Fountaingrove District, and ages in 15% new Saury, 25% neutral oak, and 60% stainless steel with 6 months on the lees. Green and bright with notes of passionfruit, white guava, green melon, honeysuckle, and jasmine flowers. This wine gives just a kiss of vanilla and cream that is heightened with extended time in the glass. The wine is intricately textured, balancing the citrus freshness from the stainless steel with the tropical fruit richness given by barrel fermentation. Only 220 cases produced.