* A list of the most current accolades -   but of course you already knew these wines were winners!

2007 Cabernet Sauvingon, Napa Valley Estate- Silver Medal from
San Francisco Chronicle’s Int’l Wine Competition

2007 Merlot, Napa Valley Estate- Silver Medal from
San Francisco Chronicle’s Int’l Wine Competition

2007 Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley Estate- Silver Medal from
San Francisco Chronicle’s Int’l Wine Competition

2007 Tinto St. Helena, Napa Valley Estate- Silver Medal from
San Francisco Chronicle’s Int’l Wine Competition & Gold Medal from the 2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition

2007 Meritage, Napa Valley Estate- Silver Medal from
San Francisco Chronicle’s Int’l Wine Competition (not yet released)

2006 Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley Estate- Best of Class & Double Gold!
Jerry Mead’s New World Int’l Wine Competition & Bronze at San Francisco Chronicle’s Int’l Wine Competition

2006 Meritage, Napa Valley Estate - Three-time Medal winner!
Pacific Rim Int’l Wine Competition, San Francisco Chronicle’s 2009 International Wine Competition and Grand Harvest Awards

2007 Tinto Classico, Old Vines, Oakville Estate Napa Valley  – Two-time Medal winner!  Silver Medal from Pacific Rim International Wine Competition and Bronze from the 2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition

2008 Chenin Blanc, Old Vines Napa Valley, St.Helena Estate – Bronze Medal from 2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition -sorry, this wine is already sold out but White Wine Only Club members will receive one bottle in October’s shipment.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Estate  Silver Medal winner!  Pacific Rim International Wine Competition

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Matt Kramer of Wine Spectator says… “This is the kind of tasting room experience I adore. It’s the thrill of discovery, that unmatched sensation of having been there before the word got out. That seems impossible these days, but clearly it’s not.” Check out the June 30, 2003 issue of Wine Spectator or Click here to read more about Mr. Kramer’s experience at the Casa.

Casa Nuestra donates rare and specialty wines to the world’s largest charity wine auction. The “lot” was a one-of-a-kind wine tasting experience: twelve bottles which auctioned for $3000 from our library cellar, the highlights of 23 years of wine making at Casa Nuestra. All were estate bottled. Production of each vintage ranged from 150 to 400 cases, depending on the year. Each bottle has a unique place in Casa history.

Chenin Blanc, when seriously made, has a cellar life perhaps greater than any other white variety – a fact known in Europe though virtually unknown in this country . Our lot contains four venerable Chenins, ranging in age from 18 to 23 years old. Few have ever tasted white wines of this age from the Napa Valley, or anywhere else in North America. The experience is not available, at any price. We have intentionally left the cellar dust and cobwebs on these bottles, the authentic patina of age. The 1980 is our first commercial vintage. The 1983 was our first entry into a commercial wine competition (San Francisco Wine Competition, double gold). The 1985, a botrytis vintage, was served by President Ronald Reagan at the White House. The 1986 Dorado is our debut late harvest Chenin and a gold and best-of-class selection,

Two debut White Reisling selections are included: a late harvest (1997) and an off-dry example (1989). The Casa history must includes our proprietary red wine, Tinto Classico (2001). Tinto is made from an authentic field mix family vineyard in Oakville which was planted in the early 1950′s – one of the oldest still-standing plantings in the region.

Two examples of Cabernet Franc are included, 1986 and 1987. We were one of the first North American wineries to initiate a Cabernet Franc program, beginning in 1986, another gold and best-of-class wine.

Casa first offered a meritage selection in 1991, under the name “Quixote.” This line is now offered as “Meritage” (1999). In that same year, 1999, we offered our debut Merlot, another gold and best-of-class wine.

Examples of all these wines have been tasted within the past 60 days, and they are known to be sound and rewarding. Please enjoy them together with the warm personal regards of Casa Nuestra.

Eugene R. Kirkham, co-owner

Casa Nuestra Winery, of St. Helena, Napa Valley will represent North America in the first international conference on Chenin Blanc to be held in the Loire Valley, France, July 2 through July 5. Casa Nuestra Winery is one of the foremost producers of ultra premium Chenin Blanc, having specialized in the variety for 23 years.

In Europe and other wine growing regions around the world, Chenin Blanc holds a place among the most noble premium white wine varieties. In contrast, in North America, the white wine market is dominated by Chardonnay, and there are very few premium wine producers still making Chenin Blanc.

The international conference, called the Rendezvous De Chenin, will occur in the ancestral homeland of the variety, the famous Loire Valley. Famed for its storybook chateaux, the Loire was historically the region where the French aristocracy built their summer residences. The white wine of the region, made from Chenin Blanc, has been justly renowned for centuries, and is especially known for this long cellar life.

The conference invited Casa Nuestra Winery to participate, together with representatives from France, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Casa is the only North American Chenin Blanc producer to be represented at the conference. The delegation from Casa Nuestra, will include co-owner and founder, Gene Kirkham, and winemaker Allen Price, who will participate in three days of tasting panels, evaluating Chenin Blanc wines from around the world.

Chenin Blanc is an extremely versatile variety, and wines in many styles are made from this grape. At the conference, the full spectrum of Chenin Blanc will be represented: dry wines, off dry wines, dessert style wines, and sparkling wines. Casa Nuestra’s trademark style is a dry Chenin Blanc, though when conditions have permitted, Casa has made a late harvest dessert Chenin. For further details on the conference see www.oenologuesdefrance.fr