Locations by Dave Phinney CA-4 White
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Wine Enthusiast
Lush and full in texture, this wine has more spicy flavors than fruity ones, as a blend of vanilla, hazelnut and cream coat the palate. It has the rich feel of barrel fermentation and will win friends with the layering of subtleties on such a decadent mouthfeel.
Editors’ Choice
To make the best possible wine from a given Location. When it comes down to it, we all know that great wine starts in the vineyard, so why not seek out the best vineyards regardless of appellation, varietal, or vintage? Dave Phinney created this portfolio to explore the possibility of what could happen when all of the stereotypical constraints and regional rules were pushed aside, allowing him to focus on one task: making great wine. The label concept was born when Dave was in France and a taxi pulled up with the very distinctive “F” sticker on their license plate. It sent his mind racing with the possibilities… recalling his experiences getting to know vineyards and their caretakers all over, and leaving him excited to expand this network to include even more Locations. Each label release is carefully crafted by Dave and partners around the world, offering a glimpse into his perception and experiences of the Locations he’s explored… so far.
Dave Phinney first became interested in wine after he took a friend up on an offer in 1995 to go to Florence, Italy for a semester abroad. During that time, he was introduced to wine and found himself wanting to learn more. Eventually, he took a job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997 as a temporary harvest worker. Deciding that if he was going to work this hard, it would have to be for himself, so in 1998 he founded his first wine brand (Orin Swift) with two tons of zinfandel and not much else. He spent the next decade developing internationally renowned brands. His ambition with Locations has led him around the world, allowing him to pursue his winemaking goal of achieving complexity through geographic diversity.
In the world of wine there are compelling Locations that exist where soil, climate and vines interact to produce grapes that uniquely express their Location through wine. These Locations exist individually within appellations, but are seldom combined across appellations during blending due to laws and restrictions that make it near impossible to express true winemaking freedom.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
Responsible for the vast majority of American wine production, if California were a country, it would be the world’s fourth largest wine-producing nation. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of red wine styles, and unlike tradition-bound Europe, experimentation is more than welcome here. California wineries range from tiny, family-owned boutiques to massive corporations, and price and production are equally varied. Plenty of inexpensive bulk wine is made in the Central Valley area, while Napa Valley is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious and expensive “cult” wines.
Each American Viticultural Area (AVA) and sub-AVA of has its own distinct personality, allowing California to produce red wine of every fashion: from bone dry to unctuously sweet, still to sparkling, light and fresh to rich and full-bodied. In the Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate vineyard acreage. Sonoma County is best known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé and Zinfandel. The Central Coast has carved out a niche with Rhône Blends based on Grenache and Syrah, while Mendocino has found success with cool climate varieties such as Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. With all the diversity that California wine has to offer, any wine lover will find something to get excited about here.