NVL winery spotlight
TRINITAS CELLARS
Celebrating 20 Years of Sun, Soil, and Humanity
Photos courtesy of Trinitas Cellars BY ELIZABETH SMITH
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n 2002, Tim and Steph Busch founded Napa Valley’s Trinitas Cellars. Today, twenty years later, second-generation proprietors Garrett and Betsy Busch continue the family’s tradition of crafting artisan wines that express the trinity of winemaking: sun, soil, and humanity. Trinitas offers over 20 different wines for every taste, occasion, and budget. Their flagship wines include Carneros Chardonnay, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley single-vineyard Cabernet Franc, and an old-vine Carignanbased red blend from Contra Costa County. Each wine demonstrates purity of fruit and reflects the terroir of its vintage. In July 2020, Trinitas Cellars welcomed Consulting Winemaker Kale Anderson to their team. He arrived shortly before harvest and quickly familiarized himself with the vineyards before the first pick. “I am inspired by the quality, variety, and unique character of our estate and grower sites,” said Anderson. Anderson has been making wine for over 20 years for some of the area’s most celebrated producers. He launched his career in 2001 with his first harvest
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internship at J Vineyards and Winery in Russian River Valley. After graduating with his B.S. degree in viticulture and enology, he worked at Colgin Cellars, Terra Valentine Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, and Pahlmeyer Winery. While director of winemaking at Pahlmeyer, Kale became one of the youngest winemakers to earn 100 points from Robert M. Parker, Jr. Trinitas is delighted to offer Anderson’s inaugural 2020 releases – Carneros Chardonnay, Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, and Carneros Pinot Noir – available on the Trinitas website and in the tasting room at Napa Valley’s Meritage Resort. Later in 2022, Trinitas will release its first single-vineyard blend from a historic site in Oakley, California. The 2020 Sandy Lane Vineyard Red is 44% Carignan, 22% Mataro, 18% Zinfandel, and 16% Petite Sirah. The grapes come from the 50- to 80-year-old vines in the dry-farmed, windswept vineyard on Sandy Lane planted in the legendary “Oakley sands” and meticulously farmed for three generations by the Gonsalves family. These heritage vines yield wines with energy, verve, and stunning purity. It will delight those
who enjoy bold Napa Valley wines– at a fraction of the cost. In the luxurious Trinitas tasting room, visitors will discover the exceptional service of its warm and attentive team. Trinitas offers indoor and outdoor seating, with a choice of a traditional wine flight or chocolate-paired flight. For those interested in viticulture, the estate vineyard, which includes a newly replanted block, is a three-minute walk away. “It is a perfect spot for picnics and to soak in the iconic Grape Crusher statue along with a stunning Napa Valley vista,” shared General Manager Sonyia Grabski. “We feel blessed to have shared the greatness of Napa with our guests for 20 years. With our vineyard replant and welcoming Kale to our team, we look forward to doing so for decades more.” One can join them in August for a weekend-long 20th-anniversary celebration that includes a grower’s dinner, library tasting, winery tour, lobster feed, and gourmet brunch. Trinitas Cellars is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.trinitascellars.com
