Two Shepherds 'Wiley' Carbonic Carignan
Mendocino County > California
Carignan, 2023
Made from 100% Carignan using carbonic fermentation. Dark plum and black cherry fruit flavors with vibrant acidity and chappy tannins with freshness that leaps out of the glass and leaves you beguiled. The cuvée is named for the winemaker's cat Wiley and their wines feature their numerous animals at their homestead. This wine is a total unicorn, and stands out from the other creatures in the flock. 80 year old vines! Certified Organic.
Mendocino County > California
Carignan, 2023
Made from 100% Carignan using carbonic fermentation. Dark plum and black cherry fruit flavors with vibrant acidity and chappy tannins with freshness that leaps out of the glass and leaves you beguiled. The cuvée is named for the winemaker's cat Wiley and their wines feature their numerous animals at their homestead. This wine is a total unicorn, and stands out from the other creatures in the flock. 80 year old vines! Certified Organic.
Mendocino County > California
Carignan, 2023
Made from 100% Carignan using carbonic fermentation. Dark plum and black cherry fruit flavors with vibrant acidity and chappy tannins with freshness that leaps out of the glass and leaves you beguiled. The cuvée is named for the winemaker's cat Wiley and their wines feature their numerous animals at their homestead. This wine is a total unicorn, and stands out from the other creatures in the flock. 80 year old vines! Certified Organic.
Grape: 100% Carignan
ABV: 10.9%
The Story: Two Shepherds is the labor of passion founded by William Allen, well known Rhône enthusiast and former wine logger. William was a garagiste with his own home shop for years before moving into commercial production as a one-person micro winery in 2010. In 2015, William was joined by his now wife Karen Daenen, a wine industry veteran, as they moved into their own production facility in Windsor, Sonoma County. William focuses on day-to-day wine making while Karen, the Chief Shepherdess, runs foot stomping, blending trials, marketing, accounting, design and other key elements to the business. We didn’t get to meet Karen on our recent visit to Sonoma, but did spend some time with William, and the 3 donkeys, 3 goats, 5 chickens, 3 cats, and 2 dogs (the 2 shepherds, in fact). Besides being utterly cute and super friendly, each one of these animals contributes to the success of their farm and vineyard. When one of the wines matches their personality, they get a wine named after them. The animals on the farm create a total farm ecosystem. Over three months in the winter while the vines are dormant after pruning, the goats and miniature donkeys are let into the 3x3 rows of vines to do their regenerative farming work. Since there is no use of soil amendments or herbicides, the donkeys and goats do weed control munching on the brush which would otherwise reach chest height, and eat their way around the dormant vines. Their droppings help fertilize the soil. The rest of the year they are fed hay and cuttings. The Donkeys, which are very affectionate, make excellent companions, but also are great protectors on the farm. William said they haven’t lost a single chicken to predators since they got the donkeys! Additionally, the cats help keep the vineyard clear of pests such as gophers which are a problem, and especially birds. Aria and Austin - the Australian Sheepdogs also help keep birds away, which can nosh on clusters of ripening grapes, spoiling the fruit before harvest.
Inspired by the farm’s first kitten, Wiley. A true carbonic carignan, sealed in tank for 10 days, then pressed back to stainless to finish fermenting and aged 5 months. This vintage was picked at lower ripeness, and a short time in tank, and is lighter than previous releases.
Personality: Fresh berry aromatics leap out of the glass, both complex & fun flavors with that charismatic crunchy carignan charm.
Harmony: Chill this kitten, and makes an incredible summer food wine in any direction. Dazzling on it’s own as well.