The San Francisco Wine Exchange Wines

The San Francisco Wine Exchange's portfolio and family of wineries is a collection of producers who are the "stars" of their individual and unique appellations. An appellation is a growing area designated for wine production and specifically limited by geographic boundaries.

Each appellation has its own particular combination of climate, soil, and vineyard makeup. These factors have proven demonstrably, over many years, that the wines from each such appellation offer distinct characteristics and styles. The wines produced from grapes grown or selected by SFWE's client producers in these appellations are among the finest examples to be found of those varietals or blends.

Each SFWE winery client is situated in a specific appellation, but may also use its expertise with a specific varietal or type of wine to go beyond its own regional borders to select grapes for production at their facility.

The following wine grapes are available from various regions and SFWE producers:

Considered by many to be the "King of Red Wines," this is a dry, full-flavored wine with a very distinctive character and remarkable aging potential. Widely produced around the world, it flourishes in many climatic zones and soil types ranging in style from medium-bodied and fruity to full-bodied and intensely flavored. Frequently blended with Merlot and/or Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon usually displays its finest flavor and aromatic characteristics after oak barrel aging followed by several years in the bottle.

One of the world's greatest red wine varietals, Merlot produces dry red wines prized for their rich fruitiness and velvety texture. Merlot can age well in the bottle, but matures somewhat earlier than its close relative Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine with which Merlot is often blended. It ranges in style from soft and fruity to full and rich.

Petite Sirah is a varietal that has played a very important role in California wine making over the years. For many years, it was widely planted throughout the state, used both as a color-deepening and body-enhancing component in blended red wines as well as being bottled as a 100% varietal by a number of wineries. Although there are only about 60 wineries still producing Petite Sirah as a distinct varietal these days, this core group of wineries are devoted to the grape and offer a variety of styles in aromas and flavors while sharing the common characteristics of full body, deep color, and complexity. New research by the University of California-Davis oenological department has revealed via DNA testing that approximately 90% of California's Petite Sirah vines are actually a varietal known as Durif whose origins are in France's Rhone Valley. The remaining 10% are a grape called Peloursin which is a hybrid of Durif and Syrah. Research continues, but there are no plans under way to change the name of this red wine grape.

Often called the "Queen of Red Wines," Pinot Noir is one of the world's noblest red grape varietal wines. Pinot Noir is prized for its rich, complex character and sumptuous texture, although the wine ranges in style from fruity and light/medium bodied to rich, full and aged worthy. It is also used extensively in sparkling wine production.

This is a red wine grape grown primarily in the Rhone River Valley in France where it is utilized in the famous wines of Cote Rotie, Hermitage and as a component of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Recently, it has experienced an upsurge in popularity in California with considerable new plantings throughout the state with a concentration in the Central Coast region. This varietal yields a spicy, aromatic, deeply-colored and full-flavored red wine of notable distinction.

Sometimes called the "mystery grape" because of its obscure origin, Zinfandel yields fine wines in a remarkable range of styles and types. As a flavorful red wine, it ranges in style from fruity and light-medium weight to rich and powerful. Zinfandel also is used extensively in rosÈs wine production and in making fortified, port-style wines.

The following white wine grapes are available from various regions and SFWE producers:

This dry white wine is esteemed throughout the world for its richness, complexity, and flavor. It is widely planted in France, California, and more recently Australia. It ranges in style from elegant and crisp to full and luscious with accents of wood; one of the few white wines that show well with extended oak barrel aging. Chardonnay is also used extensively in sparkling wine productio

A key to the distinct character of this varietal is found in its name which means spicy. This white grape is grown in Germany and particularly the Alsace region of France. Although the California acreage devoted to this varietal is relatively small, it is planted widely from Mendocino to the lower Central Coast. The wine's aroma is singular and even pungent with styles produced that range from crisp and dry to full-bodied and sweet.

Considered to be one of the world's "noble" wine varieties, this grape originates in the Rhine River Valley of Germany. It is planted in California in fairly small quantities but throughout the state, especially in cooler regions. Noted for its excellent acidity which contributes to both the wine's balance and its exceptional ability as a white wine to age for extended time, Riesling possesses an intrinsic flowery, fragrant aroma making it one of the world's most attractive white wines. Depending on the level of sugar in the grape at the time of harvest, Riesling can yield wines ranging from crisp and completely dry to full-bodied, powerfully aromatic and richly sweet.

This is a white wine, with its origins in France's Bordeaux and Loire Valley regions. It is known for its intense aromatic characters and flavors which range from distinctly herbal and vegetal to floral or melon-like. Sauvignon Blanc is usually made as a dry, medium-bodied wine although it may be produced as a late harvest, sweet wine. It is often blended with the complementary grape Semillon.

The following sweet wines are proprietary wines available from two SFWE producers:

Electra
Produced from 100% Orange Muscat grapes known for their fresh fruit and floral aromas. Fermentation is arrested at 4% alcohol yielding an incredible refreshing character.

Produced from 100% Orange Muscat, this dessert wine is fortified with grape neutral spirits for additional body and longevity. Its aroma of orange blossoms and apricots is complemented by a lingering full flavor of fresh citrus.

Elysium
Produced from 100% Black Muscat grapes, this dessert wine is fortified with grape neutral spirits for additional body and longevity. It has a singular aroma of roses with notable fresh berry flavors.

Depending on the style produced, the individual port may be a blend of varying percentages of the grapes of Tinta Cao, Tinta Amarela, and Valdepenas, all with their origins in Spain. The wines are each fortified with grape neutral spirits for additional body and longevity.

This dessert wine is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fermentation is arrested with grape brandy when there is still a substantial amount of unfermented sugar.