News Releases

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (May 16, 2018) – Malene Wines, the newest member of Crimson Wine Group, is pleased to introduce two new distinctive Rosés, a Bandol-style Rosé of Mourvèdre and an Old Vine Rosé of Grenache, made from 44-year old vines. The two new wines join Malene’s recently released 2017 flagship cuvée, and all three will be on tap in the Malene Scene Airstream beginning June 1 at its new location adjacent to Chamisal Winery in San Luis Obispo.

“Rosé has grown up and it’s a joy to work on a brand like Malene Wines that is solely devoted to crafting Rosé,” said Malene Wines winemaker Fintan du Fresne. “I’ve embraced the challenge to present three distinctive styles of Rosé, and I was inspired to elevate the wine from something juicy and delicious that one sips on a summer afternoon, to something that one thinks about as a serious wine.”

Malene’s 2017 Rosé of Mourvèdre is a Bandol-style Rosé made from Camp 4 Vineyard, a preeminent vineyard in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. Savory, textured and broad, this complex wine pairs well with barbequed pork loin and can be aged for up to two years.

In an effort to “explore the limits of Rosé,” du Fresne chose a single block of 44-year old vines from Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County for Malene’s 2017 Old Vine Rosé of Grenache. He feels the age of the vines adds elegance and refinement to this subtle, ethereal wine. This wine can lay down for up to three years, and pairs well with scallops and crab.

Malene’s flagship 2017 Rosé, is a Provençal-style Rosé from Santa Barbara. Although the wine is made in the Provençal-style, it still retains exuberant California character. The wine, which is meant to be enjoyed young, is fresh, juicy and crisp with honeydew melon and strawberry aromatics.

Each of these wines will be available to the public on June 1 in Malene’s 1969 Airstream Overlander Trailer, which will be located in its permanent location adjacent to Chamisal Vineyards winery. Reminiscent of the ‘60s surf scene, the new mobile tasting room was sourced, rebuilt and customized specifically for the Malene Rosé brand. The Malene Airstream is roomy enough to accommodate a tasting bar and a cozy seating area for several guests.

Guests can visit the Malene Airstream every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 7767 Orcutt Road in San Luis Obispo, California. Updates about airstream hours, locations and activities can be followed on Instagram @MaleneWines and with the #MaleneScene hashtag.

Malene Rosé debuted two years ago with the 2015 vintage and was an instant success. To meet increasing national demand, production was increased significantly in 2017. The wines are available across the country or at www.malenewines.com

Photography
Photos of the “Malene Scene,” the new wines and winemaker Fin du Fresne are below for reference and can be downloaded using this link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jrccnjit2qac1m1/AADnrm4cewlSY-1IzaNz3DM_a?dl=0

About Crimson Wine Group
Based in the Napa Valley, Crimson Wine Group crafts benchmark wines from exceptional vineyards in premier wine-growing regions throughout the U.S. Crimson owns and manages approximately 1,000 acres of plantable vineyard land across six distinct regions. Crimson’s diverse collection of exceptional domestic estates and wine brands includes Pine Ridge Vineyards (Napa, Calif.), Seghesio Family Vineyards (Healdsburg, Calif.), Archery Summit (Dayton, Ore.), Chamisal Vineyards (San Luis Obispo, Calif.), Double Canyon (West Richland, Wash.), Seven Hills Winery (Walla Walla, Wash.), Malene Wines (Santa Barbara County, Calif.) and The Estates Wine Room (Seattle, Wash.).

For more information, please visit www.crimsonwinegroup.com.