Legendary Racecar Driver Danica Patrick Also Makes Fine Wines

Did you know that legendary racer driver Danica Patrick also makes fine wines? It's true. And the best part is, they are really good. Besides fast cars, Danica has a love for food and wine. In 2009 she actually bought property on coveted Howell Mountain in Napa and planted grapes for her brand, Somnium Wine. Somnium translates into "dream." Next, she got legendary wine maker Julien Fayard on board to make the wines.

I'm always looking for something new to feature for Wine Wednesday and these small production wines are perfect. I tasted through the portfolio with brand manager Ryan Maloney yesterday at a private event at St Charles Yacht Club in Fort Myers. Chef Justin Fleming put together perfect small bites (and one big bad burger) to match the flavor profiles of each of the four wines.

We started with a rose that is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and grenache. It has these great strawberry characteristics and was a crowd pleaser. Next, the sauvignon blanc which spends some time in oak. So it's not this big acid bomb. It's round and voluptuous with pleasant tropical notes. It smells different than it tastes and was a favorite of the chef's when it came to food pairing. Finally, the two cabernet sauvignons. Both were big, and were opened several hours before the event so they could breathe.

The 2019 Napa Valley cab has blackberry and cherry with a bit of exotic spice and herbs. It has a velvety finish and gets 92 points from Wine Advocate. The Estate Cab is 100% cab from Howell Mountain and gets 93 points. It's dark with plum and tobacco, and has a nice long finish. Danica not only scores big points on the track, she scores big in the wine world too. Cheers!

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Women in wine volume 2 for Women’s History Month is a new feature for Wine Wednesday during the month of March. March is Women's History Month and women are indeed making history in the world of wine. Women such as Bibiana Gonzalez Rave, founder and winemaker of Alma de Cattleya Wines.

I was introduced to Bibiana Gonzalez Rave many years ago and almost always have her wines in my home stash. She grew up in Columbia which is not a thriving wine country. However, as a teenager her parents introduced her to the art of  wine with dinner when going out. It sparked a curiosity that eventually lead her to grab a backpack and head France. She learned how to make wine in the prestigious region of Bordeaux. In 2004 she went to California to experience a wine harvest and a few years later moved to Sonoma.

Cattelaya is the national flower of Columbia, a nod to her roots. It's a beautiful, orchid that adorns her labels. She has two tiers of wine,  Alma de Cattelaya is a little more affordable. In a typical year, she produces six different wines. I love the rose of pinot noir. It has great strawberry notes and nice body.

Her sauvignon blanc sees a little oak which helps round out bitterness and add some texture. Lemongrass and melon are two of the flavors that stand out. For Chardonnay lovers, Bibiana makes a couple of them. I'm not a huge fan of this grape but every one that I've tried of hers is outstanding, well balanced. The pinot noir is also outstanding, with layers of flavors and lots of red fruit.

The wines are low production and  range in price from $22 to $48. You can find them in Florida or direct from the winery. In addition to Catteleya, Bibiana makes a sauvignon blanc with her well-known wine making husband, Jeff Pisoni. It's called Shared Notes and if you can find it, it's fantastic.

Julie Glenn and I interviewed Bibiana a couple of years ago for our Grape Minds Wine podcast. To hear more about her story and wines, click here. In the meantime, look for Bibiana's wines. Cheers to women in wine volume 2 for Women’s History Month.

*Please Drink Responsibly