Carignan
2008 S.F. Chronicle Wine Competition Schott Zwiesel
Silver Award
2008 Monterey Wine Competition Silver Medal
Winner
$16.95 per Bottle
Plums...Raspberries...Rich
dark flavors...Deep currant tones with spicy finish. Our 100%
Carignan with mouthwatering fruit that lingers on the palate is
at the apex of "fireplace wines, requiring only luxurious time
spent with it and a close friend, or alone with your deepest
thoughts. This Estate grown varietal is coaxed from dry-farmed, eighty-year-old
vines that have another twenty or so years to yield it's treasure.
Originating in Spain, and now predominant in the Languedoc
region in Southern France, this is a one red wine that white
wine drinkers can love.
Carignan is a red
wine grape that originated in Cariñena, Aragon and was later
transplanted to Sardinia, elsewhere in Italy, France, Algeria,
and much of the New. In California, the grape is rarely used to
make varietal wines, but some examples from old vines do exist.
In the Languedoc, the grape is often blended with Cinsaut,
Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Mourvèdre
and Merlot. It has an upright growth habit and can be grown
without a trellis. It was crossed to Cabernet Sauvignon to give
Ruby Cabernet.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Maribella
$14.95 per Bottle
Cherries...Raspberries...medium-dry finish... Our
blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel is
a food-friendly wine that is fantastic with
chicken or a cream-based pasta. Name after
Marie Fortino, wife of found Ernest Fortino.
Cabernet
Sauvignon
Schott Zwiesel
Bronze Award
$24.00 per Bottle
We are one of the very few wineries that
produce a Cabernet in a very traditional
style of 100% Cab, with no blending of any
other varietals. The significance is that this grape, while frequently
aromatic and featuring an attractive finish, also tends to lack
mid-palate richness requiring it's being blended with lower
tannin, but "fleshy" tasting grapes such as Merlot. Gino’s
philosophy is to let the natural grape take its course; And boy
he was right. Big, ripe and full bodied, this Cab is guaranteed
to wow your taste buds now, or hang in your cellar for that
special occasion up the road.
The principal grape in
many Bordeaux wines, Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in most of the
world's wine regions (except the very coldest), although it
requires a long growing season to ripen properly and gives low
yields. Many of the red wines regarded as among the world's
greatest, such as Red Bordeaux, are predominantly made from
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. World-class examples can improve for
decades and remain drinkable for a century.
(Source: Wikipedia )
Charbono
Schott Zwiesel
Silver Award
$28.00 per Bottle
This robust grape only graces us once every
few years, and shares no similar
characteristics to any California varietals
because of its classic Italian rootstock.
Only 88 acres of Charbono grapes are planted
throughout California, and we are one of
seven wineries that produce it from our
vineyards in San Martin. Cousin to the
robust Barbera varietal, it is a wine
connoisseur's dream aging wine, with mint,
cedar and black cherry tones echoing an
ancient growers dream wine for big dishes of long-cooking meats and
heavy pastas.
After genetic testing
conducted by Carole Meredith, it was determined to be the same
grape as the grape known as Corbeau, Douce Noire, or Charbonneau
in the Savoie region of France; it may also be related to
Dolcetto of Piedmont.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Merlot
$16.95 per Bottle
Taste the plum, the cherry, with a subtle suggestion of currants
as you drink this opulent, medium-bodied Merlot. We are entering
the realm where tannins and alcohol levels demand a great
sizzling steak or robust prime rib to compliment this Merlots
strengths.
The earliest recorded mention of
Merlot was in the notes of a local Bordeaux official who in 1784
labeled wine made from the grape in the Libournais region as one
of the area's best. The name comes from the French regional
patois word "merlot", which means "young blackbird" ("merle" is
the French word for several kinds of thrushes, including
blackbirds); the naming came either because of the grape's
beautiful dark-blue color, or due to blackbirds' fondness for
grapes. By the 19th century it was being regularly planted in
the Médoc on the "Left Bank" of the Gironde.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Sangiovese
$18.95 per Bottle
Toasty
oak and fresh fruit on our 100% Sangiovese.
As one of the main ingredients in Chianti,
it's not hard to visualize a zesty plate of
pasta complimenting this charming wine.
Italian immigrants brought Sangiovese to
California in the late 1800s, possibly at
the Segheshio Family's "Chianti Station,"
near Geyserville. But it was never
considered very important until the success
of the Super Tuscans, since then there has
been renewed interest in the grape.
Sangiovese vines are generally quite
vigorous and disease resistant, but the
berries are prone to rot. The small
blue-black grapes are slow to ripen and
thrive in hot, dry climates,
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Sparkling Wines
Extra
Dry Champagne
$12.95 per Bottle
A lovely, refined,
Champagne, this has been the toast of many a
wedding and celebration. Designed as a 100% French Colombard
treat, this sparkling wine has short, round bubbles and finishes
with a semi-sweet pirouette on the most discriminating of
palates.
The first commercial
sparkling wine was produced in the Limoux
area of Languedoc about 1535. Around 1700,
sparkling Champagne, as we know it today,
was born. English scientist and physician
Christopher Merret documented a second
fermentation by the addition of sugar at
least 30 years before the work of Dom
Perignon who, contrary to legend and popular
belief, did not invent sparkling wine.
Merrett presented the Royal Society with a
paper in which he detailed what is now
called méthode champenoise in 1662.
Although the French monk Dom Perignon did not invent champagne,
it is true he developed many advances in the production of this
beverage, including holding the cork in place with a wire collar
to withstand the fermentation pressure. It is believed champagne
was created accidentally, yet others believe that the first
champagne was made with rhubarb but was changed because of the
high cost.
Source: Wikipedia
Almond
Champagne
$15.95 per Bottle
Not much to say about our
signature Champagne...except GET IN HERE and get it
before it sells out! The nose is incredible, with
a sensual impact reminiscence of Amaretto and a finish with just
enough Almond tone to let you know it's there and go "aaahhhh."
Colombard with pure almond extract added, our wonderful staff of pourers love to stand back and watch what happens after the
first sip.
Fruit Wines
Pomegranate
Wine
$15.95 per Bottle
Great by itself, or pour over a pitcher of
ice on a hot day. Also wonderful blended
with our Extra-dry Champagne.
Apricot
Wine
$15.95 per Bottle
Great as a desert wine, or mix with our
Extra-dry Champagne.
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Fortino Gourmet Food
Chocolate
Cabernet Sauvignon Fudge Topping
$7.95 per Jar
Dress up anything icy and creamy with this
gorgeous topping. Surprise your guests or
you own palate with this sophisticated fudge
that is finger licking good.
Chocolate
Chardonnay Raspberry Fudge
$7.95 per Jar
Do you like
raspberries? Do
you like fudge? Well everyday is your birthday when you take
this out of the fridge and let it warm-up a little.
Hazelnut
Merlot Fudge
$7.95 per Jar
I
scream, you scream, we all cry for ice
cream! Or pound cake, or whatever needs
the touch of deep-dark fudge with
hazelnut overtones.
Orange
Zinfandel Mustard
$5.95 per Jar
You
won't find another mustard that's so
versatile and yummy. Hint of orange
and a dash of Chardonnay flavor that
surprises the palate.
Wholegrain
Chardonnay Mustard
$5.95 per Jar
A
classic that pops in your mouth.
Fantastic with Swiss cheese, a rich
Black Forest ham, or dress up that
bologna and cheese sandwich.
Garlic
Mayonnaise
$5.95 per Jar
This mouth watering
mayonnaise would be perfect as a
stand-in for aoli...smother your calamari with it, dunk your
artichokes in it, or, just spread it on crackers.
Fortino Chocolate Rocks
$6.95 per Bag
Fortino
Rocks...literally! Tastes like M&Ms on
steroids.
Surprise and impress your
friends as you casually fill your mouth with
our delicious Fortino Chocolate Rocks.
We like the idea of filling a little Zen
garden with them!
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