Gros Ventre Fiano Sonoma Coast 2021

ACME has been discovering new brands for 19 years now! And there is nothing more gratifying than to see a brand that we first debuted over a decade ago continue to grow and thrive within this industry. Gros Ventre first came onto our radar back in 2009 when Chris Pittenger and his wife Sarah launched their debut vintage. Since then, the wine has garnered heaps of acclaim and amassed fans all over the country but has always remained special to us at ACME. 

It all started when Chris left his sommelier gig in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to dive head-first into the production side of the wine world. Starting first at Robert Biale Winery, he then joined the Williams-Selyem winemaking team after deciding to fully immerse himself into Pinot Noir. Ultimately, Chris studied under the legendary Helen Turley at Marcassin Estate, home to arguably the most coveted Pinots made on this hemisphere, before launching his very own brand, Gros Ventre. The name pulls double duty: Gros Ventre, which translates to ‘big belly’ in French, is the name of a river near Jackson Hole and was also Chris’ affectionate nickname for his wife, Sarah, who was carrying their first child at the time of the brand’s debut release. Ten years later, with child number two and a dog gained, Chris and his wife Sarah have continued to deliver some of the most delightful wines that have ever graced the ACME wall of wine.

This is the first vintage that the Gros Ventre team is working with this organically farmed vineyard located on a steep northerly slope near the town of Healdsburg in Sonoma County.  The fruit was whole-cluster pressed and fermented in a stainless steel tank before being transferred to oak and stainless barrels for élevage. The wine went then through partial malolactic fermentation to retain vibrancy and balance. Fiano, an aromatic varietal native to Italy, exhibits a fragrant perfumed nose of pear, stone fruits, honey, fresh herbs, and white flowers. Beginning with a medium weight on the palate, this wine finishes with laser focus and bright acidity. As spring turns to summer, this refreshing white wine should be on everyone’s table!