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Casa Carneros
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Country: |
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United States |
Appellation: |
Napa |
State: |
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California |
Sub-Appellation/AVA:
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Los Carneros |
Winemaker: |
Melissa Moravec |
Winery: |
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Casa Carneros 2006
Pinot Noir
Winery
In 1989, Melissa Moravec and her husband, Kurt Reaume, planted a
seven-acre vineyard at their home in Napa Valley's half of the Carneros wine-growing region close to the San Francisco Bay. Because of the ideal climate for
traditional Burgundian grapes, they planted eight different selections, or clones, of Pinot Noir. Casa Carneros, both the
vineyard and the wine, reflect the beauty of the region, and the care and passion Melissa and Kurt have for wine.
Winemaker
Melissa
Moravec studied Enology and Viticulture at U.C. Davis from 1981 to 1984, completing her undergraduate degree in 1983 and doing one year of graduate work in
1984. In 1983, she received the Department of Viticulture and Enology's Citation for Excellence for her work. She began her professional career at Carneros
Creek Winery during the harvest of 1983 and became their winemaker in 1988. She initially came to Carneros Creek as a
research enologist to supervise the Pinot Noir Clonal Research Project conducted in conjunction with the
Department of Viticulture and Enology at U.C. Davis. The focus of the wines made at Carneros Creek is predominantly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. However, over the
years Melissa has had her hands on many different varietals from many different vineyards.
Kurt Reaume is well known to many of the
Carneros region's finest wineries for his ability to keep their machinery working. He has held positions with Carneros Creek Winery, Domaine Carneros, and
Acacia. Kurt's knowledge of wine, winemaking equipment, and viticulture have enabled the Casa Carneros team to practice old-world farming techniques, while
enhancing their ability to handle fruit and vineyards with the most delicate and modern equipment.
Vineyards
The Estate vineyard was planted in 1989
by Melissa Moravec and her husband, Kurt Reaume. Seven
acres were prepared and planted in the Napa Valley portion of the Carneros appellation, or
wine-growing region in California. The cool climate of Carneros, due to its proximity to the San Francisco Bay, makes it ideal for the varietals, or
types of grapes, traditionally found in the Burgundy region of France, pinot noir and chardonnay.
They originally focused on pinot noir and planted various clones, or types of
pinot noir grapes, in the vineyard to be able to work with, extract and define the character unique to their
particular vineyard, or terroir. Among the clonal selections planted were:
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Swan |
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Hanzell |
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Chalone |
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St. Clair |
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UCD 5 |
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UCD 12 |
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UCD 18 |
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UCD 23 |
Since 1997, the vineyard has been in full production. |