2021 Hamel Family Wines Moon Mountain District Grenache

Hamel Family Wines was founded by Pamela and George Hamel, Jr in 2006. The couple bought a house in Kenwood in Sonoma Valley, primarily to escape summers in San Francisco. The house came with an acre of Cabernet Sauvignon vines, and it began their family wine odyssey. Shortly there after, their son, George Hamel, III enthusiastically jumped at the opportunity to come aboard as the managing director to grow a multi-generational family business. Hamel Family Wines produces high quality wines in limited quantities from grapes grown on their Sonoma Valley and Moon Mountain District estate vineyards. The vineyards are farmed with organic and biodynamic practices. Buy Hamel Family Wines online today!

Moon Mountain AVA earned its official status as an American Viticultural Area in 2013. The Moon Mountain district is a sub-appellation of Sonoma Valley, and has long been considered a prestigious address for vineyards. At the relatively high level of 400 to 2.700 feet above sea level, the 17,633-acre AVA is on the western slope of the Mayacamas Mountains. About 2,000 acres within the AVA are planted to vineyards. The climate benefits from constant breezes from the bay as well as sunshine, since the area is above the fog line. Grapes grown in the AVA are primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, with some Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

One of the most popular red varieties planted, it ripens late and prefers hot dry climates. It probably originated in Spain, where it is still widely grown. Grenache is best known for its use in Southern Rhone wines, including those of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.