2008 Trapeze Pinot Noir

This Friday afternoon Travessia will release its first red wine.  It was risky from a business stand point to go almost one full year without having a red wine.  A week doesn't go by that we don't get the question... <<when are your reds going to be ready?>>

At the winery we try to educate people that not all grapes are suited to be grown in every region and that certainly Southeastern Massachusetts is not a region where red grapes can be grown with the needed quality for a red wine, for sure not consistently year after year.  For the most part, people get the message, they understand that our growing season is too short to ripen red grapes for a red wine.  But there are people who will not buy a white wine, regardless of how much they may enjoy Travessia's white wines and regardless of the fact that they are locally grown.  This is not a surprise, I knew it before Travessia even opened its doors to the public almost a year ago.  That's why I had invested a good amount of money on quality red grapes from California vineyards early in 2008.

Believe me, I would love to say, <<Screw it!  I'm making white wines only. That's what I believe we can do best here in Massachusetts.>>  Plenty of European producers do exactly that... wineries that make only Chardonnay in Burgundy, Riesling in Alsace, Alvarinho in the Minho, etc.  But most of those wineries sell their wines via traditional distribution channels, not directly to the consumer at their tasting rooms (most don't even have tasting/sales rooms).  These wineries also have decades if not centuries of tradition behind them.  As a very small and new winery, 90% of Travessia's wines are sold directly to the consumer who visits the winery.  Little is sold via wine stores and restaurants, and none via a wholesaler/distributor.

When someone comes into the winery looking for a red wine, either I have something to offer or they will go spend their money somewhere else.  Maybe one day I will be able to disregard this, but at this stage of Travessia's life, this is something that I cannot afford to have happen. I'm a proponent of "if it can't be grown here, why make it here?", but to get Travessia to where I want it to be one day, I have to think as a business person, not just as a winemaker.
 

I believe more than ever before that the right direction for Travessia is to continue to focus on making quality wines with 100% locally grown grapes, this being whites, roses and maybe sparkling.  For reds, we'll continue to source quality grapes from other regions so that we can offer 2 or 3 red wines to that certain "red wine only" person.  To preserve and continue to communicate Travessia as a locally grown wine brand, my approach is to label our red wines with a completely different label design, while giving each red wine a unique name.  I want to make sure that our customers understand that these red wines are not made with locally grown grapes.

So come on by the winery and taste our first red wine release, the 2008 Trapeze Pinot Noir.

Grape Origin:  Russian River Valley, California

Vintage: 2008

Alc.: 14% By Vol.

Barrel Aging: Multi-year 100% French Oak

Price:  $18, $16.20 to wine club members

Next post:  The origin of the Trapeze label and the adventure that was the TTB labeling permit process.

Comments

[Robert Dwyer]

This is very exciting news, and a well thought out explanation you laid out here. Looking very forward to trying your spin on Russian River Pinot Noir. Great price by the way- it's tough to find decent Pinot Noir for under $20.

[Derek F.]

Marco I forgot to ask you yesterday, how long did this Pinot spend in barrel?

[Marco Montez]

Bob, agree on finding a great RRV Pinot for less than $20, but with the current price pressure on the $30+ wines, you may start seeing more soon.

Derek, 10 months in barrel, but not all barrels were new. For me, the duration of oak aging isn't really that important since I use some older barrels in combination with new.

[David]

I'm waiting for next post...
My best wishes for you Marco,
Thanks and best regards,
David

[Anthony]

Very cool name for a red wine. Much better than my local winery's Country Red wine. But then again, its not the name that makes the wine right? It's the taste. Still sounds delish though.

http://www.stjameswinery.com/shop/wine/semi-sweet/country-red.html

[Marco Montez]

Hi David, thanks for stopping by. Everyone loves your photo. I'll be in touch.

Anthony, thanks for your comment. Yeap, I tend to really focus on details and almost obsess about things like names, etc. It's got to "feel" right and be in tune with everything else. Thanks again.