2022 Coquerel - Verdelho Calistoga (750ml)

Coquerel Family Wine Estates was founded in 2005 by high school sweethearts Brenda and Clay Cockerell, who spent decades traveling and tasting wine throughout Europe before deciding to plant their own vineyard in Calistoga. The name Coquerel is an archaic French derivation of their surname, Cockerell, a nod to the couple's roots even as they built something entirely their own in Napa Valley. Winemaker Christine Barbe now guides the estate's small-lot production.

The fruit comes from the Walnut Wash Vineyard, tucked into the afternoon shadow of the Mayacamas Mountains at the northern end of Napa Valley. The warm, protected site sits on a mix of deep clay and stony soils, conditions well suited to Verdelho, a variety more commonly associated with Spain's Rueda region but one that thrives here alongside Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah, and Tempranillo.

The wine offers a fresh nose of lemon with a hint of mineral, leading into a crisp palate with a round mid-palate and a long finish marked by nectarine. Bright and lively throughout, it's built for easy drinking. Pair it with ceviche, spicy Thai curry, or a fresh cheese plate.