2017 Paraduxx (Duckhorn) Ridgeline Vineyard Winemaker Series Red

Paraduxx is part of the Duckhorn Wine Company, which owns 13 estates in Napa and Anderson Valleys. Like the Duckhorn, Goldeneye, Migration, Decoy and Canvas Back estates, Paraduxx is partly owned by a private equity firm, though founder Dan Duckhorn remains chairman of the board of Duckhorn Wine Company. Paraduxx opened its new winemaking facility in 2005 on the Silverado Trail, though Duckhorn had been making Paraduxx label wines since the 1990s. Paraduxx was started in order to create blends outside of Duckhorn’s traditional focus on Bordeaux style wines. Since then Paraduxx has made a wide variety of blends using Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Viognier and Chardonnay.

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.