Elevated Fruit the Foundation for New Wines from Two Hands Napa
LAKE BLUFF, Ill., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Acclaimed Australian Shiraz specialist Two Hands Wines today announced the much-anticipated release of the first wines -- a pair of 2005 Cabernet Sauvignons -- from their new American venture, Two Hands Napa.
"Charlie's Patch" and "Some Days Are Diamonds" follow in the Two Hands tradition, emphasizing highest-quality fruit from prime vineyards -- in this case, sites above the Napa Valley floor. The wines are crafted at the Outpost winery on Howell Mountain by top winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown in close consultation with Two Hands partners Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz.
The wines, produced in very small quantities for the first vintage, will be marketed in select states by Two Hands importer Terlato Wines International.
"Our aim is to emulate the success of the Two Hands Wines Australian business by following the same philosophy -- sourcing fruit from great sites and blending across to make a consistent style," Twelftree said. "I have always been drawn to the texture and purity of Napa Valley Cabernet and I'm excited to be able to put the Two Hands name behind wine that Richard and I truly believe in. As with any new region, we are on a steep learning curve and we are very pleased with our first efforts."
Twelftree and Mintz began visiting Napa in the 1990s. In the course of learning the lay of the land, they barrel-tasted and walked the vineyards at some of the region's most renowned wineries. At each visit, Twelftree and Mintz absorbed like sponges the idiosyncratic nature of the dirt, the people and the way they made wine. They have put together an impressive portfolio of sites and look forward to adding new sites as they become available.
Early in the planning stages of Two Hands Napa, the duo and Brown agreed the most interesting Napa wines came from elevated vineyards, and that they would concentrate their efforts there.
The 2005 "Charlie's Patch" (suggested retail price $120), named for Twelftree's 3-year-old son, is a selection of Two Hands Napa's top barrels and is made up of 95% Spring Mountain fruit, with the remainder from Oakville. The 2005 "Some Days Are Diamonds" ($45) breaks down as 90% Howell Mountain and 10% Spring Mountain. In the 2006 vintage, parcels of Oakville, Diamond Mountain and Calistoga fruit were added, and there are plans to source from both Rutherford and Pritchard Hill in the future.
Though Twelftree and Mintz are intimately involved in the Two Hands Napa winemaking, making regular stops in Napa on their frequent trips to the States, they said the participation of Brown was a key to turning the project idea into reality.
"Obviously, Thomas has the experience and knowledge you look for in a winemaker," Mintz said. "But we see great winemaking as artistry. It's not about following formulas. And like our winemaker in Australia, Matt Wenk, Thomas brings his own vision to Two Hands, which is vital to creating wines that are distinct and memorable."
Distinct and memorable have been hallmarks for the Barossa-based Two Hands. In an era in which Australia became known for large-production, value-priced wines, Two Hands built its reputation by producing uniquely interesting Shiraz. The winery's celebrated Garden Series comprises Shiraz from Barossa Valley (Bella's), McLaren Vale (Lily's), Clare Valley (Samantha's), Padthaway (Sophie's), Langhorne Creek (Harry & Edward's) and Heathcote (Max's).
In addition, Two Hands produces the Picture Series, featuring perhaps its most approachable Australian wines, as well as the new Single Vineyard Series, exceptional wines from specific vineyards that demonstrate personality and complexity particular to their origins. Lastly, the Flagships -- a Shiraz, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Grenache -- are produced in extremely small quantities drawn from the very best barrels in excellent vintages. Their mythological names -- Ares, Aphrodite and Aerope -- evoke greatness and immortality.
Terlato Wines International has a global portfolio of 50 brands from a host of world-class wine producers and presently markets more than one out of eight bottles of wine over $14 sold in America. Terlato, with more 90+ ratings than any wine company in the world, is the flagship company of the Terlato Wine Group, the parent company of several independent businesses specializing in the marketing and production of exceptional wines. Owned and operated by the Terlato family, the Group also includes the family's winery investments and partnerships in some of the world's most esteemed wine regions, including: Napa Valley; Sonoma County; Santa Barbara County; Victoria, Australia; the Rhone Valley in France; Somontano, Spain and Montalcino, Italy.
The Terlato Wines International portfolio of brands includes: Napa Valley: Brandlin, Chimney Rock, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Luke Donald Collection, Markham Vineyards, Rutherford Hill, Tangley Oaks, Terlato Family Vineyards and Two Hands -- Napa Valley; Sonoma County: Alderbrook, Hanna, Rochioli and Terlato Family Vineyards; Santa Barbara County: Sanford and Tangley Oaks; California Appellation: Glass Mountain and Seven Daughters; Oregon: Sokol Blosser and Argyle; Italy: Baglio di Pianetto, Ca' del Bosco, Ca' Marcanda (Gaja Toscana), Florio Martinez Marsala, Gaja, Il Poggione, Kettmeir, MAZZONI (Toscana), Santa Margherita, Tiramisu, Torresella and Distillatori Nonino (Grappa); France: Champagne Bollinger, M. Chapoutier, Chateau des Laurets (Rothschild), Domaine Chanson, Josmeyer, Langlois-Chateau and Mischief and Mayhem; Australia: Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier, Domaine Tournon and Two Hands; Argentina: Tamari; Canada: Peller Estates Icewine; Greece: Boutari; New Zealand: Wairau River; South Africa: Cirrus, Guardian Peak, Engelbrecht-Els, Ernie Els Signature and Rust En Vrede; Spain: Olvena; Switzerland: Xellent Swiss Vodka.; Japan: Shimizu-No-Mai Sake.
SOURCE Terlato Wines International
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