Earthshine Wines Super Tuscan Red Blend Napa Valley 2021

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 sold in 2021, Shawna received the outstanding gift to take stewardship of the brand's grape contracts and start anew. With 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 Shawna, 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 small growers and vineyards from Luna to craft her own wines.

"Super Tuscan" came to life as a wine descriptor/term in the early 1980s when Italian winemakers began crafting wines from non-indigenous varietals of high quality. These producers largely created new blends and non-traditional single-varietal wines to protest Italy's strict classification laws. The DOC & DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) designations prevented them from innovating or thinking outside the box. So, heavy-hitter wineries like Sassicaia, Antinori, and Ornellaia rebelled with blends that included grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah with Tuscany's indigenous Sangiovese and classified them under the lowest tier of Vino da Tavola. As the wines grew in popularity, the wineries and wine writers marketed the new style as "Super Tuscans," and the term became synonymous with red blends of superior quality that combine Sangiovese with Bordeaux varietals and/or Syrah.

Shawna's "Super Tuscan" red blend combines Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, sourced from Oakville, Atlas Peak, and Howell Mountain, respectively. A complementary split of Hungarian and French oak barrels for aging lends the palate layers of flavors and texture. Shawna aged the wine for 22 months and describes it as “aromas of blackberry, savory sage, and espresso swirl on the nose, finishing with flavors of toasted coconut, raspberries, and a mocha tannin mouthfeel. A unique flavor profile that is powerful and indulgent."