Renowned Napa-based winemaker, Celia Welch, is set to export her own wines to the U.K. for the first time. Corra Wines, which she founded in 2004, comprises four vineyards; two on the Western side of Napa Valley’s Oaklands and Rutherford, and also two on the steep Eastern slopes of Pritchard Hill. Welch currently makes three Cabernet Sauvignons under this label, two of which are single vineyard. Grapes are hand-harvested; vineyards are fermented individually and kept on skins for approximately four weeks, then gently pressed and transferred to 70% new French oak barrels for around 22 months. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration.
Boutique Californian specialist, James Hocking Wine, will import the wines; the U.K. will be the first market outside the U.S. It will be available on allocation, in three bottle cases, to fine wine merchants and wine-focused restaurants. Corra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 has an rrsp of £123.62.
JHW will also import Rewa Vineyards, a small Napa Valley estate, again with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, for which Welch is winemaker. The vineyards are located in the volcanic hills of Coombsville – a cooler AVA of the region. Individual blocks are fermented separately, pressed, aged in French oak for 10 months. They are then blended and aged for an additional year in French oak. JHW will import the 2016 Rewa Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (rrsp: £177.43) and 2018 Sauvignon Blanc (rrsp: £55.00), of which only 195 cases were made. This is the first time the wine will be available in the U.K. other markets being U.S., Switzerland, Japan and British Columbia.
Commenting on the launches, James Hocking said: “I have been a huge fan of Celia’s winemaking for many years, so am now thrilled to have the opportunity to represent these stunning wines for their UK market launch. Despite currency fluctuations and economic uncertainty, the market for top end Californian wines remains extremely buoyant in London. The last couple of years have seen significant increase in demand for small volume, +£100 bottles; this is largely coming from serious wine collectors choosing Napa Cabs over their Bordeaux counterparts.”
Welch graduated from UC-Davis and subsequently worked in The Barossa Valley before landing in Napa Valley where she worked for several notable wineries. In 1992, Celia started a highly successful winemaking consultancy, working with small estate properties and their passionate owners. She currently consults for a very limited number of Napa Valley estates who share her philosophy on vineyard-driven wines. Welch was named Food & Wine’s Winemaker of the Year 2008, and in 2005, Forbes.com named her one of America’s Top Ten Tastemakers.
Both Rewa Vineyards and Corra Wines will be shown for the first time at the Collectible California tasting on 26th September.
www.jameshockingwine.co.uk | @jameshockingwine | [email protected]