A landmark in the Napa Valley, Beringer Vineyards is California’s longest continuously operating winery, having produced 141 consecutive vintages since its founding in 1876, after Jacob and Frederick Beringer purchased 215 acres of prime land and established the brand as a key player among the few wineries in operation at that time. Since then, Beringer has expanded it vineyards across many Napa Valley appellations, from the highest hills in Napa to the valley floor behind its historic winery. Its diverse portfolio is reflected in its wide range of offerings that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, and making Beringer the bestselling wine brand from the Napa Valley.
Mark Beringer, Chief Winemaker of Berringer Vineyards
The winery’s Chief Winemaker, Mark Beringer, who’s also the greatgreat-grandson of founder Jacob, was in Kuala Lumpur recently where he introduced the Beringer range. Among the outstanding wines were the Private Reserve Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon (the Private Reserve range represents the pinnacle of the Beringer portfolio) and Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Private Reserve Chardonnay showcases the best of Napa Valley terroir. Often a single-vineyard Chardonnay, this wine highlights the richness and complexity of this varietal. The 2014 vintage opens with bright aromas of fresh stone fruit, pineapple, citrus and toasted spiced almonds, while the mouthfeel is generous and rounded out by balanced acidity and a lengthy, elegant finish. The Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is selected from the best lots from Beringer’s reserve vineyards in the Napa Valley, each of which demonstrate remarkable expression of terroir. The 2012 vintage offers complex layers of black fruit and notes of cocoa powder, graphite and light smoky oak, as well as complementing notes of bittersweet chocolate and blackberry pastry.
Beringer has owned and farmed its Knights Valley vineyards since the mid 1960s, recognising its cobbled alluvial soils as a great place to grow high quality wine grapes. Its approximately 600 acres of rocky, well-drained soils are perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the first three of which goes into the Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2013 vintage has aromas of ripe black fruit, mocha, dried herbs and liquorice. Opulent but structured, it has supple blue and black fruit notes accented by dark chocolate, roasted coffee and a silky, lingering finish.
Beringer Vineyards is available in Malaysia through luenheng.co
