La Sirena was started in 1994 by Heidi Barrett, one of Napa Valley’s most admired winemakers. Barret grew up in Napa Valley working in vineyards and at wineries, and later earned her college degree in fermentation science at UC Davis. She worked as winemaker at numerous Napa Valley wineries and in 1992 became the winemaker of Screaming Eagle, the most famous of the California Cult Cabs. An avid scuba diver, Barrett named her own label La Sirena, which means “mermaid” in Spanish and Italian. The Calistoga winery makes Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Muscat Canelli.
This grape produces a dark red wine with plenty of tannins. It is one of the six grapes allowed for blending red Bordeaux wines. Malbec is also the flagship variety of Argentina. The grape needs a lot of sun and heat to mature. It adds complexity and intensity to blends.