Earthshine Wines Game Farm Vineyard Sangiovese Oakville 2022

The name Earthshine refers to an astronomical occurrence when sunlight reflects off Earth and lights up the dark side of the moon, displaying a bright, crescent shape. Astronomers have been quoted for centuries referring to the happening as "when the new moon takes the old moon in her arms." Winemaker/proprietor Shawna Miller established Earthshine Wines in 2021 after a decades-long career crafting wines for Moone-Tsai alongside Philippe Melka and then as Winemaker for Luna Vineyards. When Luna was sold in 2021, Shawna received the outstanding gift to take stewardship of the brand's grape contracts and start anew. In Earthshine, she reflects on her experiences in Napa Valley under a new phase and shines a light on the small vineyards she has loved for years.

Shawna studied forestry and worked in plant sciences at the University of Florida before becoming a winemaker. On a fateful trip to Napa Valley in the early 2000s, the region's beauty wowed Shawn, and she loved the idea of a career in winemaking. At the time, Shawna was ready to leave the humidity of Florida and recognized the potential to apply her skills in plant science to viticulture. She took a leap of faith and accepted a harvest internship in Napa in 2006. From there, Shawna hopped from harvest to harvest between the southern and northern hemispheres, working at wineries in New Zealand, Australia, and back in Napa. After returning to Napa, Shawna worked for a few wineries before joining the Luna Vineyards team, where she ran the winemaking program until the winery was sold in 2021. She was thrilled with the opportunity to continue working with the Sangiovese grown by the Vyborny family of Game Farm Vineyard and to craft a wine of her own from these famed grapes.

The Game Farm Vineyard is tucked into the southeast corner of Oakville to the west of the Silverado Trail. The small grower has been selling grapes to top brands in Napa and running under the radar for decades, with Cabernet as the big producer. Hidden among the coveted rows of Cabernet Sauvignon is a small block of 30-plus-year-old Sangiovese vines. Finding a varietal outside of the traditional Bordeaux five planted in Oakville is unusual, but this Sangiovese thrives in the intensely rocky and dry soils at Game Farm. The block has almost no topsoil, and the vines have spent decades driving deep into the ancient riverbed. The older age and stress due to soil type result in lower yields of powerfully concentrated fruit.

Aged in a combination of Hungarian and French oak barrels for 22 months, the 100% Sangiovese reflects characteristics of both the Old World and New World. Dark fruit aromas mingle with toasted spice and cola, leading into a palate with cherry jam and dried mushroom flavors—vibrant acidity dances across the palate with soft, tightly woven tannins.