Pinot Noir Nouveau, a Rose of Pinot Noir produced by River Road Family Vineyards and Winery... the beginning of a family tradition

SEBASTOPOL, Calif., Nov. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Beaujolais Nouveau, the delicious and much sought after wine made from Gamay grapes, is the most popular vin de primeur. Fermented for just a few weeks before being released on the third Thursday of November, this "Beaujolais Nouveau Day" enjoys heavy marketing while Nouveau producers race to get the first bottles to different markets around the globe.

Along comes a California innovator, producing a 2012 Nouveau (Rose of Pinot Noir)

With the 2012 harvest just about to begin, winemaker Joe Freeman found the stimulating aromas and flavors of his Green Valley, Russian River Pinot Noir grapes so exhilarating that he came up with an exciting idea... "Why not see what this wine would be like within a few months? Why not release a 2012 Nouveau in early December?"

The French-inspired tradition of Nouveau was novel for River Road Family Vineyards and Winery, and Joe's boss Ron Rubin (a beverage innovator in his own right, as the proprietor for The Republic of Tea) was delighted with the concept, giving him full creative license.

Joe Freeman is tasting the wine as it develops at the winery, and has this to share:
"The rich, ruby color of this wine is just gorgeous to look at, and it's so exciting to taste the young and developing flavors of strawberries and ripe cherries. It's going to be our very FIRST wine of this nearly perfect 2012 Vintage. Right now it's so light bodied and refreshing that I can see where this is headed, and know what a gem it's going to be."

This newly released wine is also going to be a great way for River Road Family Vineyards and Winery to celebrate this new vintage with everyone. This may be the FIRST 2012 wine released in the State of California; and, Joe is so delighted to be able to create a wine that most people would never get a chance to taste at this stage in its development. The only way anyone could, would be to visit the winery to enjoy a barrel sample. For most people, that's not possible. This wine will bring consumers to wine country in a glass...

Winemaker Joe Freeman's creative palette is also reflected in the label for this special bottling... avant garde in the most delightful of ways, and starting a Nouveau family tradition at River Road Family Vineyards and Winery.

Produced from Russian River Valley grapes, only 240 cases of this Nouveau were made from hand-selected Pinot Noir clusters. Gently pressed during winemaking, free-run juice became this wine's hallmark. Only fermented a few months, this Nouveau will always be released on the first Monday of December. This year, December 3, 2012, marks its inaugural launch... and hopefully yours too, for any celebrations ahead.

Suggested retail is $15.00.

For more information on River Road Family Vineyards and Winery, visit www.riverroadvineyards.com, or call 707-887-8130.

Media & Sample Contact: Jo Diaz
Phone (707) 620-0788
[email protected]

SOURCE River Road Family Vineyards and Winery