2015 Cimarossa Rian Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes

Genoa native Dino Dina christened his Howell Mountain vineyard Cimarossa (pronounced Chim-a-rossa), Italian for “red hilltop.” A very special site indeed, where grapes and olive trees grow side by side in soil composed primarily of red volcanic rock and dust. Not much can be cultivated on these steep slopes, rising from 1,800 to 2,300 feet in elevation. The grape clusters are small, the berries are tiny, and the flavors are deep.

About Winery

Located at 2100 feet in elevation on the Vaca range in Napa Valley, the Cimarossa “red hilltop” Vineyard flourishes in its native and natural setting. What might seem like a simple score given the farm plots that are available in the wine country, in reality, took Dino and Corry over 10 years to locate. One visit will confirm—it was worth the wait, with unrivaled 360 degree views of mountains, wilderness, and the valley floor below.

The vineyard build-out adhered to one driving force principle—to leave the property’s natural surroundings in their most native state.

This philosophy became a way of life and a constant reminder of the true fruits that the mountain can bear when left to its own devices.