You might already know Northern California’s Rombauer Vineyards for their Chardonnay — which is the number-one-selling luxury Chardonnay in America and was the only white varietal that the winery produced for 25 years. In 2014, when Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc emerged on the scene, it refused to be ignored, like a charismatic younger sibling whose shine couldn’t be overshadowed.
In the decade since, Rombauer’s bright, balanced expression of Sauvignon Blanc has steadily found a place at the table with sommeliers, buyers, and everyday wine lovers worldwide. Today, as the popularity of Sauvignon Blanc skyrockets, even amid uncertain markets, this wine appears downright unstoppable.
Made primarily with fruit from Sonoma County, along with a portion sourced from the warmer climes of the Napa Valley, Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc offers all the lively flavors you’d expect from this versatile grape variety: tangy kiwi, honeydew melon, zingy lime, and invigorating freshly cut grass.
Its flavor profile stands daringly opposite Rombauer’s opulent Chardonnay. With this wine, Rombauer demonstrates a willingness to part with tradition and respond to the tastes of rising generations of wine drinkers. For their savvy (get it?) they’ve been rewarded: Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc has become the fastest growing wine in their portfolio, by consumer demand.
Consider the Source: Sonoma Valley
When you hear “Sauvignon Blanc” you might think of the Loire Valley of France or the Marlborough District of New Zealand. However, don’t sleep on the promise of Sonoma County, where more Sauvignon Blanc (2,828 acres, at last count) is planted than in any other county in California.
Composed of vastly varied microclimates and, according to geologists, more soil types than in all of France, Sonoma County yields wines with wide-ranging characteristics and personality. No single flavor profile prevails, which keeps things interesting. This means that Sauvignon Blanc planted on one side of the county faces dramatically different growing conditions from the same type of fruit planted on the other side.
Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc is grown at historic Carriger Estate, which was established as one of the first commercial vineyards in what is now the Sonoma Valley AVA. Tucked at the foot of Sonoma Mountain, its vines thrive in well-drained alluvial soil and are protected from the cool mist of the nearby Pacific Ocean. Warm sunlight coaxes tropical flavors from the fruit, while light breezes allow slow ripening and highlight pyrazines, the compounds that express themselves as “green” aromas or flavors.
It’s a prime spot for Sauvignon Blanc.
“The vineyards in Sonoma County are as diverse as the grapes that grow on them, and we’re thrilled to showcase this AVA in our Sauvignon Blanc.” Richie Allen, Senior Director of Viticulture & Winemaking
Here, the winegrowing tradition reaches back more than 150 years, when Nicholas Carriger purchased 1,000 acres with a pocketful of hard-won gold dust. Having traveled west with the Donner Party, Carriger had wisely parted ways with his ill-fated companions, a decision that saved his life. Then he struck gold in California, scoring the money to pay for his future vineyard.
In 2021, Rombauer Vineyards obtained 90 acres of this apparently lucky site, adding another 54 acres from the same property the following year. In order to meet rising consumer demand, they converted its vineyards from Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon Blanc.
“The vineyards here produce Sauvignon Blanc that has very high varietal intensity, which is exactly what we’re looking for in our wine,” says Allen.
Rombauer’s Roots
Trace the origins of Rombauer Vineyards, and you’ll find love of food and all things culinary. Koerner Rombauer is the great-nephew of Irma Rombauer, author of the iconic The Joy of Cooking cookbook. While originally trained as a commercial pilot, Koerner eventually found his love of wine take the lead, and he became a business partner in Conn Creek Winery.
In 1980, Joan and Koerner sold their stake in Conn Creek to invest in their own winery, Rombauer Vineyards. That year, the two harvested their first grapes – Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap District and produced their first vintages at Shafer Vineyards and Koerner’s garage, which was bonded as a winery for this purpose. Within two years, they had begun construction on their own winery on the Silverado Trail and in 1984, the first Rombauer Vineyards wines were released – 1980 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1982 Chardonnay.
Two decades had passed when Richie Allen, Senior Director of viticulture and winemaking, began campaigning to convince the Rombauers to release a Sauvignon Blanc. After five years of pleading, Allen got his wish.
“We like to say that our Sauvignon Blanc is the wine that almost wasn’t – it took me awhile to convince Koerner that this was the right wine for our customers. Needless to say, this wine arguably became his personal favorite.”
The first 1,000 cases of Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc sold out in six months. What’s more, the wine became Koerner’s personal favorite, and he began stocking cases in his home cellar. By 2019, at a production level of around 16,000 cases, the wine was gaining traction. Today, Sauvignon Blanc is the second most popular wine for Rombauer.
With 700 acres of vineyards owned and leased, Rombauer now claims properties across Northern California in the following appellations: Carneros, Atlas Peak, Stags Leap District, St. Helena, Calistoga, Sonoma Valley, and the Sierra Foothills. In addition to Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, Rombauer produces Pinot Noir, Barbera, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. In both their vineyards and wineries, Rombauer Vineyards maintains Certified California Sustainable accreditation and a commitment to earth-friendly production practices.
Today, Allen and his winemaking team are excited about the continuing growth of the Sauvignon Blanc program. Obtaining the Carriger vineyard is a win for the winery and will help ensure consistency of fruit quality in future vintages. With the growing demand for light, bright, white wines from consumers across the country, Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc seems to be a sure thing.
This article is sponsored by Rombauer Vineyards.
