
Jason Charles
Vinca Minor, Moonland
Carignan Rosé 2018
Value
Vibe
Characteristics
Acidity
Body
Umami
Production Notes
Jason works with the buoyant resolve of a documentary filmmaker, totally immersing himself in his material while maintaining a careful curator's eye and sharp aesthetic. This Carignan is sourced from Hawkeye Ranch, a dry-farmed and certified organic vineyard site, which was planted at least 100 years ago in the still rugged, untamed Redwood Valley. The fruit was gently foot tread after which the juice was soaked on the stems and skins for three hours prior to pressing. The wine was fermented and aged in a combination neutral french oak and stainless steel.
When Jason established Vinca Minor in 2013 he made the prescient decision to build his brand around old-vine Mendocino Carignan, a grape few knew of — and even fewer raved about. Since then, his bold, minimalist handling of the grape has earned him much acclaim and placed him at the forefront of California’s natural wine movement. He's also helped make Carignan an emerging star. Now he’s part of California’s experimental vanguard, pushing the the boundaries of fermentation and site expression. With his new beyond-wine project, Moonland, Jason is showing that apples and pears may have an exciting role to play in the future of an industry combatting wildfires, drought and other realities of climate change.

Vinca Minor, Moonland
Berkeley, CA