2008 White Table Wine

Birdsong

A bright blend of Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, this elegant wine is a fitting tribute to a magnificent woman, Birdsong Rank, a stunningly beautiful, full-blooded Cherokee princess, who was Donnis’ great-great grandmother. Birdsong lived in the 1800s and was the daughter of proud Cherokee Native Americans who faced death, starvation and endless hardships when they were forcibly removed from their native lands in the South and relocated to Oklahoma, traveling the torturous route that became known as the “Trail of Tears.” Stories about Birdsong — a proud, savvy and classy woman — are part of our family lore.

Each time we taste this spectacular wine, we literally buckle to its brilliant citrus flavors and aromatic nose. And for some mysterious reason, memories of Birdsong always burst forth. We think she would approve.

Méthode: The grapes for this wine were harvested from outstanding vineyards in Mendocino, including the highly acclaimed Talmage Vineyard near Ukiah. We fermented the wine in stainless steel tanks and aged it ever so briefly in one-year-old neutral French oak barrels. It did not undergo malolactic fermentation and the residual sugar — which imparts a slightly sweet accent — was stopped at 1.5%.