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Mark's Blog: Bin 7008

Luna Vineyards - A Lunar Eclipse

Luna Pinot GrigioLate in 2011, when we formed our partnership with Vintage Point, we also started to represent Luna Vineyards. Luna Vineyards has a special relationship with Vintage Point; Vintage Point Co-Founder Tom Peterson is also winemaker for Luna Vineyards. We are really very excited to start showing their wines around, because there is so much news to share on this brand. 

First, a bit of history...long before Pinot Grigio was at the tip of everyone’s tongue, there was Luna, as in Napa’s Luna Vineyards.  Co-founders George Vare and Mike Moone saw something they really liked at the southern end of the famed Silverado Trail back in 1995.  They were thoroughly impressed with the potential of the property and so they bought it.  But rather than planting the typical grape varieties of Napa;  they decided to go a different route, they planted old world grape varieties that were much less known and far less planted; Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese.  And they took the wine world by storm with the success of these grapes.  Of course, we all know about Pinot Grigio’s phenomenal ascent.  Well, you might say Luna was a little ahead of itself; clearly they had the right idea with Pinot Grigio. But they have also had big success with their Sangiovese.  The Pinot Grigio style has evolved too become a lighter style, Chardonnay has been replaced by Albarino as a small percentage of the blend. On the production side, fruit is treated to organic farming, hand picking and hand sorting. 

Luna SangioveseYes, they still have their award winning Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese, that continue to make wine programs everywhere, but stay tuned for more innovation like the new "Lunatic" red and white blends being launched around April 2012, they are sure to pave the way for more success for this stored winery of Napa Valley. The red blend will be a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Souzao, a Portugese varietal  (suh-zay-oh).  The white blend will be Chardonnay, Albarino and Malvasia Bianca. In addition to this new lineup of wines, the packaging of all the labels is being updated with trendy, clean new imaging and brighter colors.

In addition to the Luna lineup of wines, the winery has a long term partnership with Arnold Palmer and produces the much acclaimed Moone-Tasi wines, which are very small production and enjoy a cult-like status. Luna Vineyards has re-invented itself and is turning heads and palates everywhere - one could say, in a cute way - that the winery is experiencing a "lunar eclipse".

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Meet the Author

Mark's Blog: Bin 7008

 

Our mission, as the gateway for so many top echelon producers, is to share the "True Stories" of these families, the history of the great brands we represent in the marketplace, and bring you inside those wineries via our blog.

Bin 7008 refers to the collection of these true wine stories that is The Mark Wine Group.

Bin -  our collection of fine wines, and 7008 has special meaning; it's the street number of The Mark Wine Group.

About The Author

Mark Gmur is an Austin, Texas based wine professional who has a unique perspective interacting with all facets of the wine trade and strives to bring you the best kept secrets, trends and developments from the wines business as well as a journal of all the fantastic wines he samples.

We encourage you to comment on any of his blogs, as we would all like to hear your thoughts.

In Vino Veritas - In Wine There Is Tuth