2022 Coquerel - Verdelho Calistoga

Coquerel Family Wine Estates was founded in 2005 by high school sweethearts Brenda and Clay Coquerel on a small vineyard just north of Calistoga. Their estate, Walnut Wash, sits in the shadow of the Mayacamas Mountains and is farmed for low yields under winemaker Christine Barbe. Alongside its flagship Sauvignon Blanc, the twenty-acre property grows several other varieties in small lots, including the little-seen Verdelho.

Verdelho is a rare planting for Napa Valley, more often associated with Portugal and Australia, but it thrives here on Walnut Wash's deep clay and stony soils. The grapes are among the first picked each harvest, handled in small lots to preserve their natural brightness. The wine is fermented and bottled with an eye toward freshness rather than weight, keeping it crisp and food-friendly.

The 2022 shows a pure, lemony nose with a touch of mineral, opening into a palate that turns citrusy and faintly tropical, rounding out with flavors of nectarine. Bright acidity keeps the finish clean, with just a hint of honeyed sweetness at the edges. It pairs naturally with oysters, ceviche, or Thai and Vietnamese dishes.