Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Located in the cool hills of California’s Central Coast, Hahn Family Wines spans primarily the windy slopes of the Arroyo Seco AVA and the Monterey region. The vines for the Boneshaker cuvée benefit from maritime influences from the Pacific Ocean, which temper the sunny days and promote slow grape ripening. The alluvial soils, a mix of gravel, pebbles, and silty deposits, ensure efficient drainage and naturally limit yields, resulting in concentrated berries and a generous expression of the Californian terroir.
Made from old Zinfandel vines, this wine is crafted from grapes harvested at optimal ripeness, then destemmed before fermentation in stainless steel tanks with temperature control to preserve the intensity of the fruit. Regular pump-overs promote the extraction of color and tannins. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in oak barrels, mostly American, to impart woody and spicy notes while softening the structure.
This wine reveals notes of blackberry, black plum, and candied cherry, enhanced by spicy touches of pepper and licorice, as well as woody nuances of vanilla, toasted oak, and caramel. On the palate, the body is full and generous, supported by round and silky tannins, a moderate acidity that upholds the fruit's freshness, and a persistent finish marked by notes of chocolate and sweet spices.
Where are we traveling?
Monterey
It is located on the central coast of California, about a two-hour drive south of San Francisco, along Monterey Bay, made famous by John Steinbeck's novels and the turquoise waters of Big Sur. The vineyard extends mainly in the Salinas Valley, a 120-kilometer-long corridor often dubbed "the greatest cold air conduit in the wine world," where fogs and icy Pacific winds sweep in every afternoon with relentless regularity, sometimes dropping summer temperatures by more than 20 degrees in a few hours. The wine history began modestly in the 1960s, when pioneers like the Wente and Mirassou families, coming from Livermore Valley, identified considerable viticultural potential in this agricultural valley dominated by lettuce and artichokes, later confirmed by UC Davis studies that classified the northern part as one of California's coolest areas. Development accelerated in the 1970s and 1980s, attracting big names like Chalone Vineyard in the limestone heights of the Gavilan Mountains, before the mosaic of sub-appellations — Arroyo Seco, Santa Lucia Highlands, Chalone, Carmel Valley — gradually revealed the region's extraordinary diversity. The climate varies dramatically from north to south: cool, windy, and almost austere at the mouth of the valley near the bay, it gradually warms as one moves south, as the oceanic influence diminishes, offering a palette of microclimates capable of accommodating both Burgundian and Bordeaux grape varieties. The soils are remarkably varied, from the granitic and sandy alluvium of the valley floor to the limestones and schists of the Santa Lucia Highlands benchlands, including the marine-origin limestone soils of Chalone, perched at 500 meters altitude. Monterey has established itself as one of California's little-known wine jewels thanks to its elegant and fragrant Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands, its lively and saline Chardonnay carved by the sea wind, its aromatic Riesling and Gewurztraminer from the coolest sectors, and its ripe and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from the warmer inland areas, testifying to a region whose immensity and climatic diversity make it a true wine continent in itself.
The little history of the country
UNITED STATES
In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that revitalized the Californian wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa regions. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933, Prohibition decimated the vast majority of the Californian wine industry, so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained. It wasn't until 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition, and California was primarily known for producing fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous wineries were established (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc.). In 1976, a landmark event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris." It pitted the greatest French wines against the new American upstarts. On May 24th, an unexpected result shook the wine world, as, to everyone's surprise, the United States emerged victorious. This competition, however, remains relatively unknown to the general public. Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. While California largely dominates the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world, and Washington State offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.