Highflyer Wines & Priest Ranch Napa Valley

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1 GOLD SERIES vol. 26 no. 03 w WINE PRESS Medal Winning Wines from California s Best Family-Owned Wineries. Highflyer Wines & Priest Ranch GOLD MEDAL WINE CLUB America s Leading Independent Wine Club Since 1992

Highflyer 2011 Centerline For his Highflyer Wines, winemaker Craig Becker works with small, family-owned, benchmark vineyards throughout California where terrior and variety are in perfect alignment.

2 Highflyer 2011 Centerline For his Highflyer Wines, winemaker Craig Becker works with small, family-owned, benchmark vineyards throughout California where terrior and variety are in perfect alignment. The 2011 Centerline is a proprietary red blend of 43% Syrah, 18% Merlot, 11% Sangiovese, 9% Petite Sirah, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Grenache, and 3% Malbec. Becker carefully blended estate fruit from his Somerston property with fruit from various appellations in California, including Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria Valley, Bennett Valley, and Santa Ynez. The result is a wine that s remarkably distinctive and complex. A definite crowd pleaser, the Highflyer 2011 Centerline over delivers with a focus on fruit and structure. Aromas of ripe black cherry, chocolate, and spices complement the full, rich palate with lush tannins and flavors of fresh berries and just a hint of oak. Aged in oak. Enjoy now until Gold Medal SPECIAL SELECTION Priest Ranch 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Priest Ranch wines are all estate grown and bottled from the historic 638 acre Priest Ranch portion of the Somerston Estate in. The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc represents one of the best vintages in recent years. Fruit was selected from three small vineyard blocks, all planted at 850 to 900 feet elevations. When making this wine, winemaker Craig Becker opted to split the fruit into two batches for fermentation - one batch for stainless steel tanks and the other for neutral oak barrels. He also aged the wine briefly in neutral oak, which helped to create a nice richness on the palate in the finished wine. The Priest Ranch 2013 Sauvignon Blanc opens with ripe tropical aromas and a crisp, ripe palate with fresh fruit flavors that are balanced by the wine s bright acidity and richness from the oak. Aged 7 months. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoy now until Gold Medal SPECIAL SELECTION How we choose our wines... Gold Medal Wine Club showcases two wines each month from only the best small wineries of California. Featured wines include those which have earned medals in the top wine-industry competitions or have been highly rated by a respected national wine publication (see goldmedalwineclub.com/resources/wine-ratings). On occasion, we feature a pair of wines which are newly released by the winery and which medals and reviews are forthcoming. Each and every selection is a superb wine made in small quantities and with very limited distribution. There are over 3,000 wineries in California producing thousands of different wines. Only wines fitting the above criteria are considered in choosing the featured selections each month. 2

Highflyer Wines & Priest Ranch A pair of sister wineries based in California s shows off the talents and passion of awardwinning, veteran wine grower and winemaker Craig Becker.

Priest Ranch and Highflyer Wines both source fruit from this stunning 1,628-acre property.

3 Highflyer Wines & Priest Ranch A pair of sister wineries based in California s shows off the talents and passion of awardwinning, veteran wine grower and winemaker Craig Becker. Real estate developer Allan Chapman purchased the sprawling Priest Ranch and Elder Valley properties in 2004, setting the stage for Somerston Wine Company s major vineyard project in. Priest Ranch and Highflyer Wines both source fruit from this stunning 1,628-acre property. This month s Gold Series selections come from a pair of sister wineries, Highflyer Wines and Priest Ranch, both of which are under the reputable Somerston Wine Company brand based in the all-important. The company traces its roots back to 2004 when Somerston s principal owner, Allan Chapman, purchased the 638-acre Priest Ranch property and a contiguous accompanying parcel of 990 acres called Elder Valley. The land that comprises Priest Ranch traces its ancestry all the way back to 1849 when a young man named Joshua James Priest arrived in California as part of the gold stampede of that era. Then 23, Priest mined for more than eleven years and gained title to a parcel of the original Rancho Catacula land grant that today bears his name. For the record, Priest fathered nine boys and for a time, marketed a natural spring water product that was removed from his land. The area was then known as Soda Valley and is located on the eastern side of the Vaca Mountain Range that serves as s eastern boundary. The second piece of property under Somerston Wine Company is comprised of rolling, volcanic land and was originally settled in It became known as Elder Valley in 1877 and its first grapes were planted in The combined properties sit at elevations of between 800 and 2,400 feet and provide an incredible number of potential growing sites. At this point, there are some 215 acres under vine to over fifteen different varietals. After purchasing the properties, Allan Chapman met wine industry veteran Craig Becker and the pair decided to enter the wine business together. A search for names for the new venture finally settled on Somerston, which is an ode to Chapman s English family history in tea shipping. George Somers was a major figure in the British shipping business. To further honor this piece of history, many of the Somerston vineyard blocks are named after ships and tea clippers. A trio of wine brands comprise the Somerston Wine Company in : Somerston Estate, Priest Ranch, and Highflyer. Each has a unique focus and style to perfectly round out the company s offerings. Continued on Page 4 3

Highflyer Wines began in 2003, born out of the idea that Becker could use his aviation hobby to support his winemaking work.

4 Highflyer Wines & Priest Ranch, continued There were two distinct wine labels formed under the main Somerston Wine Company brand the Somerston Estate which features high end, premium wines, usually from single vineyard sources, and Priest Ranch, which exclusively features wines from the historical Priest Ranch property. Craig Becker later merged his own Highflyer Wines brand to round out the trio of wineries that make up the Somerston Wine Company. He serves as General Manager and Director of Winemaking and Viticulture for each entity. Highflyer Wines began in 2003, born out of the idea that Becker could use his aviation hobby to support his winemaking work. As a private pilot, Becker discovered he could see AVA s throughout California from a unique perspective. From the window of his airplane, Becker could scout out interesting vineyards based on the unique characteristics of the vineyard topography and location. In a day, he could tour distant vineyard sites down state, meet with various vineyard management teams, and be home in time for dinner. It became the perfect passion project for Becker, blending his two loves of wine and aviation. Highflyer Wines has grown into an eclectic line up of wines that represent regions as far north as and as far south as Santa Barbara County. The first wines under Somerston Wine Company were released in 2008 and they were met with great critical acclaim. The new winery entity was on its way to prominence. We have been quite selective about our releases, Becker recalled. We believe we are really good at what we do with our fruit and our intention is to showcase The wines for Priest Ranch, Highflyer, and Somerston can be tasted at the company s comfortable yet sophisticated tasting room in the heart of Yountville (). our incredible property as well as the special regions and climates that make wines remarkably distinctive. Priest Ranch and Highflyer Wines are excellent examples of artisan winemaking at its very finest. Careful attention to terrior and its application to certain varietals assures the brands of ongoing success. This pair of wineries, and its encompassing Somerston Wine Company, are ones to closely follow in upcoming years. We look for continued achievements from this exciting addition to the wine community. craig Becker, Winemaker Veteran wine grower and winemaker, Craig Becker stands as the Director of Winemaking for his Priest Ranch and Highflyer Wines entities. Since his first vintage, Becker has remained a steadfast believer that great wine starts in the vineyard and thus has an obsession with quality fruit. He also oversees the vineyard management of the 1,628 acres that comprise the huge Somerston Estate in, which serves as the sole fruit source for Priest Ranch and one of the primary sources for Highflyer. Over the years, Becker has also helped launch several wine projects and consulted for many reputable wineries including Peacock, Dierberg, StarLane, and Kelleher. 4

Food pairings from highflyer Wines & Priest Ranch Beef Short Ribs Pair with the Highflyer 2011 Centerline Red Blend 1 lb beef short ribs 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 2 tbsp all-purpose

coated. Shake off the excess flour. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the ribs until browned on each side, about 5 minutes per side.

5 Food pairings from highflyer Wines & Priest Ranch Beef Short Ribs Pair with the Highflyer 2011 Centerline Red Blend 1 lb beef short ribs 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 2 tbsp all-purpose flour 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 1 onion, sliced 1 clove garlic 1 (12 fluid oz) can/bottle stout beer 1 cup beef stock Season the short ribs with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour until coated. Shake off the excess flour. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the ribs until browned on each side, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and set aside. Add the onion and garlic to the skillet; cook and stir until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Return the ribs to the skillet and pour in the beer. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pan, until all of the browned bits have mixed in with the liquid. Pour in the beef stock, cover, and simmer over low heat until very tender, about 2 hours. Recipe sourced from Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi Pair with the Priest Ranch 2013 Sauvignon Blanc 5 oz roasted macadamia nuts, coarsely ground 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs 2 tbsp all-purpose flour 1/4 cup butter, melted Vegetable oil, for brushing foil 4 (6 to 8 oz) mahi mahi fillets Kosher salt and pepper 2 tbsp coconut milk Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together the nuts, panko, flour, and butter. Set aside. Place a piece of aluminum foil on a baking sheet and brush it liberally with vegetable oil. Place the mahi mahi on the foil and sprinkle each fillet with salt and pepper on both sides. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush each fillet with coconut milk. Divide the nut mixture among the tops of the 4 fillets, patting the mixture to spread and adhere to the fillets. Return to the oven and bake for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to stand 10 minutes before serving. Recipe sourced from Find this recipe and all of your favorites online at GoldMedalWineClub.com/recipes. We have a delicious collection of entrée recipes to pair with your favorite Gold Medal wines! 5

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Craig Becker Craig Becker, a Southern California native, is the Director of Winemaking and Viticulture, General Manger, and a founding partner of Somerston Wine Company and its

Becker has been heavily involved in the wine industry for nearly two decades and brings enthusiasm, passion, and an incredibly innovative, entrepreneurial spirit to his business.

After growing up in Long Beach, California, Becker moved north to attend Santa Rosa Junior College in Sonoma out of a desire to be surrounded by nature and, as he says, for the unlimited mountain

6 IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Craig Becker Craig Becker, a Southern California native, is the Director of Winemaking and Viticulture, General Manger, and a founding partner of Somerston Wine Company and its brands of Somerston Estate, Priest Ranch, and Highflyer Wines. Becker has been heavily involved in the wine industry for nearly two decades and brings enthusiasm, passion, and an incredibly innovative, entrepreneurial spirit to his business. He states it was his love of the outdoors that brought him to winemaking many years ago. After growing up in Long Beach, California, Becker moved north to attend Santa Rosa Junior College in Sonoma out of a desire to be surrounded by nature and, as he says, for the unlimited mountain biking opportunities. While there, he discovered the joys of science and met his future wife during a wine appreciation course. Once bitten by the wine bug, Becker transferred to the heralded University of California Davis to study plant physiology and soil science. He took a harvest internship at Robert Mondavi Winery, which solidified his career path. Upon graduation in 1997, Becker accepted a job at Spring Mountain Vineyard, one of St. Helena s most revered wineries. While at Spring Mountain, Becker worked under the direction of famed winemaker Craig MacClean and learned about the integration of vineyard management practices and winemaking. Eventually, he was promoted to winemaker when MacClean left to start his own brand. Becker was just 23 years old at the time and his wine career literally took off. By 1999, Becker had started his own vineyard consulting business and it lead him to develop esteemed vineyard sites for Peacock, the Central Coast s Dierberg and StarLane properties, the Kelleher Family, and the Balcom Family, among others. Becker Wines and Vineyard Management was a quick success and Craig Becker was now an established, reputable name in California s wine industry. In 2003, Becker started creating his own wines, including those for Highflyer Wines, ad ode to his passion and hobby as a private pilot. In addition to Highflyer, Becker was making wines for a number of high-end wineries and he was always on the hunt for premium fruit. On one of these such hunts, Becker met Allan Chapman regarding fruit at the grand Somerston property. On his first visit to the property, Becker says, I was blown away. Chapman was looking for a winemaker to produce his wines and Becker was the man for the job. The two teamed up to create the Somerston Wine Company and its family of wine brands, and the rest, as they say, was history. Over the years, Priest Ranch and Highflyer Wines have grown into admirable brands that beautifully represent the Somerston property and the top AVA s of California, respectively. While Becker focuses on Bordeauxstyle blends and varietals for Priest Ranch, to really showcase what brought Napa its fame and international notoriety, he gets to really test his creativity and have fun with more obscure and eclectic varietals with his Highflyer wines. Each brand has become successful in its own right, which has been very rewarding for Craig Becker. When Becker isn t at the winery or walking the vineyards, one can find him spending time with his family and flying planes. We look forward to many great future vintages and achievements from this all-star winemaker. Cheers! 6

WINE REGION: The fruit for Allan Chapman and Craig Becker s Priest Ranch wines is exclusively sourced from the Priest Ranch property which makes

The vineyards here are mostly hillside and range in elevation from 850 feet to 2,400 feet.

The focus is on Bordeaux-style wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Petite Sirah) plus a few Rhone varietals (Syrah

Highflyer Wines takes a different approach, sourcing fruit from Priest Ranch and Somerston Estate, but also from a variety of vineyards

Napa Valley The idea is to highlight some of the best AVA s in the state, from as far north as to as far south as Santa Barbara County.

Barbara County), and Centerline, a red blend from Somerston Estate fruit, blended with other vineyards.

7 WINE REGION: The fruit for Allan Chapman and Craig Becker s Priest Ranch wines is exclusively sourced from the Priest Ranch property which makes up 638 acres on the eastern side of the Vaca Mountain range. The vineyards here are mostly hillside and range in elevation from 850 feet to 2,400 feet. A huge range in soil types also gives Priest Ranch the ability to produce a number of different varietals. The focus is on Bordeaux-style wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Petite Sirah) plus a few Rhone varietals (Syrah and Grenache Blanc) as well. Highflyer Wines takes a different approach, sourcing fruit from Priest Ranch and Somerston Estate, but also from a variety of vineyards throughout California. Napa Valley The idea is to highlight some of the best AVA s in the state, from as far north as to as far south as Santa Barbara County. The currently Highflyer line up includes a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Santa Maria Valley, two Syrahs (one from Sonoma and one from Santa Barbara County), and Centerline, a red blend from Somerston Estate fruit, blended with other vineyards. The common denominator with these two brands is the high quality fruit and the remarkable winemaking talents of Craig Becker whose wines are consistently distinctive, complex, balanced, and compelling. ADD A PLUS! BOTTLE to your next wine delivery The Plus! Program automatically adds on one special wine to each regularly scheduled wine delivery, or as often as you like! Plus! wines are all highly rated, very small production wines with availability too limited for all regular club members to receive. JOIN TODAY! $18-$22/DELIVERY This Month s Gold Series featured Plus! wine: Margerum 2013 M5 90 POINTS - Antonio Galloni s Vinous 7

Wine wizard: test your WINE iq! What is an AVA? An AVA is an American Viticultural Area - a designated wine grape growing region in the United States that is distinguishable by its geography.

8 Wine wizard: test your WINE iq! What is an AVA? An AVA is an American Viticultural Area - a designated wine grape growing region in the United States that is distinguishable by its geography. AVAs range in size from the Upper Mississippi Valley AVA at 29,900 square miles across four states, to the Cole Ranch AVA in Mendocino County, California, at just 189 acres. How many AVAs are there in California? As of January 2016, there were 232 established AVAs in the United States, 137 of which are in California. This large number is a testament to the variety of microclimates in the state. California s largest AVA is the Central Coast AVA, and its smallest is Cole Ranch in Mendocino County. What was the first AVA recognized in the United States? The Augusta AVA, surrounding the area around the town of August, Missouri, was the first recognized AVA in the United States. It gained the status on June 20, The Gold Medal Wine Store Instant! Membership Rewards Saves you 14% to 35% off Highflyer and Priest Ranch Wines! Retail Price Gold Medal Membership Rewards Pricing* at Winery 2+ btls. 6+ btls. 12+ btls. Highflyer 2011 Centerline $22.00/btl. 2-Bottle Members: 4-Bottle Members: $19.00 $17.33 $16.50 $19.00 $16.50 $15.25 Priest Ranch 2013 Sauvignon Blanc $22.00/btl. 2-Bottle Members: 4-Bottle Members: $18.00 $16.33 $15.50 $18.00 $15.50 $14.25 *Effective per bottle prices after Membership Rewards discount is applied at checkout. Order Online: Call Toll Free: These special discounts are available only to club members, gift recipients and gift givers. 2 bottle min, per wine, per order. Shipping and tax (if applicable) not included in above prices. Membership Rewards does not apply to Sale or Special Offer Wines.

PRIEST RANCH WINES ESTATE FARMED WINES OF UNCOMMON QUALITY AND CHARACTER

PRIEST RANCH WINES ESTATE FARMED WINES OF UNCOMMON QUALITY AND CHARACTER Priest Ranch embodies the essence of Napa Valley, from the trailblazing mindset of its establishing pioneers to today s spirit of