2021 Alpha Omega Hudson Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Alpha Omega in Rutherford was founded by Robin Baggett and Eric Sklar, who both have wine industry backgrounds. The winemaker is Jean Hoefliger and French wine consultant Michel Rolland is also part of the winemaking team. The estate makes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Henrik Poulsen is winemaker. Consulting winemakers are Jean Hoefliger and Michel Rolland. Robert Parker has written that the winery “continues to turn out impressive wines that merit attention from consumers.”

Carneros AVA, also known as Los Carneros, is at the southern end of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys at the top of the San Francisco Bay. The 8,000 vineyard acres are mostly planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both of which thrive in the district’s cool, marine climate. Carneros became an AVA in 1983 and it has attracted foreign wine companies along with local producers. It has been especially appealing to European producers of sparkling wines including the giant Spanish cava producers Codorniu and Frexinet, and the French Champagne house Taittinger. Codorniu in Carneros is called Artesa, and Frexinet’s Carneros brand is Gloria Ferrer. Taittinger calls its Carneros winery Domaine Carneros. The European producers also make still wines in Carneros.

This crisp, dry white wine hails from France but is grown in wine regions around the world. In California, it is sometimes called Fume Blanc; while in Sauternes, it is a component of their famous dessert wines.