The Michael Mondavi family announced the launch of “Winemaker for a Day,” a new custom wine blending program at Folio Enoteca & Winery, the family’s wine bar, café and micro-winery located in the Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa.
“The Winemaker for a Day program is a fun, approachable way for wine enthusiasts of all levels to experience the art of winemaking,” said Rob Mondavi, who oversees the winemaking operations at Folio Enoteca & Winery. “This program is a great way for consumers to understand the distinct characteristics of different varietals, to explore their individual taste profile, and to create their own special wine.”
During the hour-long program, participants will learn the fundamentals of custom blending. After tasting several varietals directly from the barrel, each person can choose the components they want to use to craft their own signature wine. The selection can be made from numerous varietals grown in the Napa Valley, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The wines are aged in either new French oak or second-year French oak barrels to allow for blending versatility.
“We specifically chose a broad selection of base wines for the blending program to allow for numerous styles of wine—from big and opulent to subtle and elegant—depending on each person’s unique taste,” said Mondavi.
After the final blend is created, participants can choose the bottle and closure they want, as well as create a custom wine label. There is a two-case minimum purchase and pricing depends on the base wines used for the final blend.
