The Grape, The Myth, The Legend Whether you are a Wine Club Member or have had a chance to visit our Estate, we hope you’ve had the chance to indulge in Trentadue’s famed La Storia wines. Wondering where they came from? This is the inside story on the La Storia label, how it came to be, and why it should be on your list as “forever favorite” wines from Alexander Valley.
Today, La Storia represents the best of Sonoma County. La Storia was initially conceived to be a “reserve tier” for Trentadue Winery and quickly evolved to become a standalone brand. While most of the grapes for La Storia red wines are from our Alexander Valley Estate, we will sometimes incorporate other special vineyards into our Cabernet Sauvignon Blend.
The La Storia wines (that you may find in the market place if you are lucky) are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cuvee 32, and Chardonnay. The “named” cuvee wines such as La Storia Cuvee Evelyna and La Storia Cuvee Nicole are only available in the winery’s tasting room. They are extremely limited unique blends from our range of Estate grapes that could include anything from Montepulciano, Carignane, Sangiovese and beyond. These historical Italian varietals are perfectly at home in Sonoma County and make up distinct and palate-pleasing blends that we believe define the Alexander Valley region.
With Chardonnay, being the most popular wine consumed in the U.S., it clearly had to be an offering with the La Storia brand. World-class Chardonnay needs a cooler appellation than Alexander Valley, so we select vineyards in the cooler Russian River Appellation. This appellation is closer to the cooling effects of the ocean and many days during the growing season are blanketed in fog the entire day. Combined with perfect soils, Russian River Appellation is renowned for the world’s best Chardonnay.
Talk Terroir To Me Some of the best wine in the world is grown in sandy, loam soils and alluvial fans of gravel. The Trentadue Estate not only benefits from the coastal influence in Sonoma, but also from the terroir around the Russian River region. The property sits on a bench at slightly higher elevation, away from heavier soils that can impart too much vigor to the vines. Instead, our red wines flourish in the sandy alluvial soils with balance and finesse.
We Go Way Back The Trentadue Estate sits in the heart of Alexander Valley. Recognized as one of the warmer growing regions, red varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zinfandel make for world-class wines. Unlike the Napa Valley though, the more significant maritime influence from the cooling Sonoma Coast results in brighter acidity in these reds. The warm days and cool nights result in balanced tannins and even development of fruit flavors. What comes to bottle is a supple, soft mouthfeel, rich aromas and concentrated flavors unique to Sonoma County wines.
The La Storia brand is a nod to the Italian heritage in the region as vineyards were planted by early Italian farmers in the Sonoma Valley. A somewhat unusual grape now, the Petite Sirah planted in our vineyards as a favorite varietal among the Italian immigrants of the area. Trentadue Petite Sirah is bottled as its own expression, but you will likely taste this exceptional Petite Sirah influence in the La Storia Cuvee 32. This popular red blend is the culmination of the best blend each vintage from many of the varietals on the Estate to make a unique and outstanding wine.
Whether you’re in the tasting room with us, or enjoying these wines from your cellar at home, we hope you are as enamored with the history and continued legacy that is the La Storia wines as we are.