A New Vision in Winemaking Philosophy
What makes our Mariner wine so special? For more than 40 years, our experience with Dry Creek Valley’s soil, climate and vineyard diversity has allowed us to choose the best fruit from the best vineyards. The essence of that knowledge is how The Mariner came to fruition.
A blend of all five noble Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot), The Mariner has a wonderful sense of depth and complexity. This is partially due to how the blend was put together. First, individual lots in our vineyards were harvested separately and put in French oak barrels for aging. After nine months, a base blend of Cabernet and Merlot was established. Then, small percentages of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot were added to enhance the final blend. The wine was then put back into French oak for an additional 18 months. This process, coupled with our enhanced vineyard sources, has created a wine with incredible personality and structure. Certainly, it is a wine that will age for 10 years or more.
The name The Mariner seemed appropriate given our love of the sea. Like a mariner, a winemaker has to navigate his or her way through a given vintage. The poem on the front of the Mariner label by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, mirrors the plight of a mariner and a winemaker.
We hope you enjoy The Mariner as much as we do. It’s an exciting time at Dry Creek Vineyard, and the journey is only just beginning.
Bon Voyage!