The grapes in our Sonoma County Merlot come from our Certified Sustainable Estate Behler and Wild Oak vineyards located in the heart of Sonoma County, as well as from top growers throughout the region. Merlot thrives in this picturesque valley where warm days are cooled by evening breezes and fog from the Pacific Ocean. Each carefully selected vineyard contributes distinctive and individual qualities to the finished wine. All grapes are gently de-stemmed before cold-soaking for two days to extract optimal color and flavor. The fruit is fermented in separate lots, allowing each lot to be individually and distinctly crafted before being aged in French oak barrels, 25% new. The wines are kept 16 months in barrel before final blending and bottling.