New Brand: BOUCHAINE VINEYARDS
May 18, 2021
DEDICATED TO CREATING EXCEPTIONAL ESTATE
PINOT NOIR AND CHARDONNAY
Situated on 104 acres of rolling hills with views to San Francisco, Bouchaine Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating winery in the Carneros AVA, located on the southernmost tip of Napa Valley. In the late 1880s, a Missouri-born settler named Quincy Boonfly planted grapes and fruit trees on the property. An Italian winemaker named Johnny Garetto bought the land in 1927 and farmed it until 1961, when he sold to Beringer.
After 20 years as a storage facility, the dilapidated winery and vineyards were purchased by Gerret and Tatiana Copeland in 1981. They set to work revitalizing the property with new vineyards, winery improvements, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Redwood from early storage tanks was recycled and repurposed into the new facade for the winery and tasting room buildings. Over the years, the Copelands continued to update the property, and invested their time and passion into building a sustainable, family-owned estate.
VINEYARDS
The wines tell a story.
Each bottle is a narrative of not only the vintage and the land, but of the people who wholeheartedly work together to craft the wines. The bottle of wine may be gone, but the experience and memory can last forever. We invite you to make Bouchaine wines a part of your memories.
The fog and cool breezes off the bay, coupled with the shallow clay loam soils, make this site perfectly suited for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The soils force the vines to dig deep for water, promoting depth and concentration as the roots struggle to penetrate the ribbons of obsidian, quartz, clay and volcanic deposits. Of Bouchaine’s 87 planted acres, 31 are dedicated to Chardonnay, 46 to Pinot Noir, with the remaining 10 devoted to Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Syrah.
Vineyard blocks are planted with different sun exposures and pruning techniques based on topography, to optimize air circulation and ripening. The high-touch, precision viticulture is managed by an all-female vineyard crew that performs every aspect of the growing process entirely by hand. That includes pruning, positioning shoots, thinning clusters and applying compost, which provides a natural source of rich nutrients for the soil.
VITICULTURE
Great wines are grown, not made. The philosophy is to produce exceptional Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with depth, texture, and balance that embody the excellence of Burgundy, the exuberance of California and the terroir of Carneros. Bouchaine works with a meticulous all female vineyard crew for intricate hand work throughout the season. The winemakers work with the crew to communicate the details of all vineyard passes, from shoot positioning to leafing and fruit thinning for optimal fruit and wine quality.
SUSTAINABILITY
As a sustainable winery and certified green farm, they believe in protecting the natural resources and minimizing their impact on the environment. Bouchaine was the first Fish Friendly Farm certified in Napa County! They also practice sustainable pest management in the vineyards. They have a vast array of raptor and bluebird boxes to host these nemeses of rodents and insects. Pheromone traps are also used to disrupt the mating rituals of bugs. They are also sensitive to the lay of the land, maintaining a natural water flow by removing vines. These practices result in a vineyard ripe with diversity that is focused on leaving a gentle imprint so this land can be enjoyed for generations.
To learn more about their sustainability practices please head over to their website!
Meet…
GERRET & TATIANA COPELAND
For owners Gerret and Tatiana Copeland, Bouchaine Vineyards is the perfect manifestation of their shared vision of a classic California winery. Their shared appreciation of beauty, strong commitment to philanthropy, and love of fine wine and food make them a well-matched team at the helm of Bouchaine. Under the Copeland’s leadership, Bouchaine has grown from a pair of ramshackle buildings into a thriving vineyard estate. With imagination and passion, Gerret and Tatiana have fashioned wines and a wine country experience for visitors that is a distillation of their remarkable lives.
CHRIS KAJANI
As Winemaker and General Manager, Chris represents the next generation of Bouchaine. She brings a love for Carneros and a no compromises attitude. A UC Davis double graduate, first in BS in Biochemistry, followed by a MS in Viticulture & Enology, her first winemaking project was joining the team at Pahlmeyer in 2004, under Erin Green. An accomplished Carneros winemaker, Chris made nine vintages with Saintsbury Winery prior to joining Bouchaine in early 2015. Her appointment marked the beginning of major restructuring for Bouchaine and an exciting future ahead.
BOUCHAINE’S CORE WINES
Bouchaine Vineyards Pinot Noir Carneros 2018
Bouchaine’s 104-acre estate vineyard lies on the southern border of Napa Valley’s Carneros district. Fog, wind, and the cold night time temperatures of this unique geographical area lend a distinctive regional identity to the Pinot Noir. Their Pinot Noir undergoes a native fermentation, bringing aromatic layers of tangy dark cherry, mocha, cola, and spice notes. The lip smacking entry shows both dark-er fruit and wild strawberry flavors with gorgeous rose petal and baking spices in the background.
Bouchaine Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros 2018
Chardonnay is the ultimate medium for the winemaker’s skills and imagination. Bouchaine’s winemaking vision calls for the production of more than a dozen different Chardonnay wines from our estate blocks, which are in turn melded into the final Estate Chardonnay. You will find layered, lovely aromas of fuji apple, clementines, kaffir lime and jasmine. A rich, yet tangy palate showcases flavors of nectarine, lemon curd and brioche with a long lip-smacking finish.
Bouchaine Vineyards Vin Gris Carneros 2020
Vin Gris is a French term for a pale pink wine made from Pinot Noir grapes. This wine sees no oak contact, the vivid aromatics are preserved for your sipping pleasure! The nose draws you in with fresh picked strawberry, juicy watermelon and guava, while the palate displays layers of white nectarine, cantaloupe and more melon. This fun and vibrant wine is completely dry — it grabs your palate and does not let go.
