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The bottles: Vineyard 36 wines, various prices.
The back story: With the coronavirus pandemic putting nearly all sporting events on hold, fans are looking for an alternative. Say, watching reruns of classic baseball games. Or listening to sports-radio hosts talk about Will Ferrell movies.
But here’s a better idea, we say: enjoying a sports-themed wine.
Vineyard 36 is a label created by two now-retired National Hockey League players, Cam Ward (Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks) and Tim Gleason (Los Angeles Kings, Carolina Hurricanes and other teams). Both developed an appreciation for wine when they played and traveled together. At team dinners, they would try different bottles and they began to appreciate how wine unites people, they recall. “Hockey has been my life’s work. However, after being introduced to fine wine it was clear I had found another passion,” says Ward.
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The next logical step? Starting a wine label. Ward and Gleason partnered with Jason Earnest, a wine-industry veteran. The trio began by producing a single barrel. When they liked the results, Vineyard 36 came into being. The label’s focus is on California’s Napa Valley, with sourcing from a variety of respected vineyards in the famed winemaking locale. “Our winemaking philosophy is to create powerful, elegant and complex wines that express the essence of the region,” the label says.
Vineyard 36 has clearly found a market: Most of the label’s current releases — the 2017 vintage — are sold out, though select retailers may have a bottle or two. The label produces 10,000 bottles annually.
What we think about them: These are good, if slightly expensive wines (prices run from $55 to $225 for the main releases) that speak to what Napa can offer. The Foundation Red Blend ($55), heavy on the Merlot, stood out for its velvety structure and genteel fruitiness. The label says you should pick up notes of Bing cherries, sandalwood and clove.
How to enjoy them: These are wines made for a meaty meal. The Vineyard 36 suggests pairing the Foundation with veal chops or beef Wellington, for example.
