1976 Mill Creek Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Mill Creek Vineyards & Winery is a small winery founded and run by the Kreck family. Its roots go back to 1969 when Charles and Vera Kreck and their three children planted Cabernet Sauvignon in an old prune orchard on their property. Today their son Bill Kreck runs the estate with his wife Yvonne and their son Jeremy is winemaker. The estate has about 55 acres planted to red and white wine grapes.

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.