2020 Realm ‘La Fe ” Rose

“The challenges of the past year or so have left an indelible mark on all of us. Yet the resiliency of both Nature and Humanity bring a sense of renewed optimism and faith. With a new growing season well underway in Napa Valley, we find ourselves as energetic as the vines looking ahead to brighter days.

In that spirit, we are delighted to share the surprise release of our 2020 La Fe Rosé wine.

When smoke from the wildfires of August 2020 lingered in the valley, we knew from experience our red wines would likely be compromised. The fruit was several weeks away from reaching full maturity – poor timing for reds, but perfect for Rosé. So we decided to harvest some fruit early as an experiment. Rosé is much less susceptible to smoke taint because of minimal skin contact. We harvested mostly Merlot and a little Cabernet Sauvignon from our two Estate vineyards, Farella and Moonracer. Our aim was a lighter, fresher style of Rosé – gentle pressing, cooler fermentations, no wood impact. The result is a wine tailored perfectly for summer drinking.

At first, we weren’t sure we would release this wine. We didn’t want to risk the reputation we worked so hard to earn over all these years. But each time we tasted this wine, we found ourselves smiling – it was too good not to bottle it! Perhaps most of all, we are thrilled to craft a wine that sparks so much joy despite the challenges inherent in making it. Maybe that’s The Realm Way – making the most of something…never giving up. The wine is vibrant with citrus, floral and red fruit notes. There is no impact from smoke. The name, La Fe, is a reminder that winegrowing (and life) sometimes requires a little faith – in Nature, in one another, in ourselves, and maybe even in something greater.”