Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes’ drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.
For more than 30 years, Folie à Deux has crafted world-class wines that captivate the senses and evoke the nuances of the land. The grapes are selected exclusively from Sonoma’s legendary appellations, where each variety thrives in the local terroir. Together, these wines embody a pitch-perfect fusion of grape variety and region, offering a glimpse of Sonoma’s extraordinarily diverse terroir, region by region. Domenica Totty joined the team in 2017 and her extensive experience in the wine industry has given her a profound understanding of how great wine is made. The Alexander Valley’s warm climate, marine-cooled evenings, and well-drained, volcanic hillside soils translate to rich wines with smooth, well-structured tannins. Following harvest and fermentation, aging in a combination of French and American oak barrels showcases the bright, varietally expressive palate of this Merlot. This vintage is deliciously approachable with vibrant, ripe black cherry flavors, accented by notes of toasted caramel and vanilla, with smooth, well-structured tannins