Intercept Pinot Noir Paso Roble

"I created Intercept as a thank you to my fans. I wanted to give them high quality wine at an affordable price because they deserve it. The name ‘Intercept’ is a nod to my career, but also a reminder that during every moment of your life, the possibilities are wide open. You just have to go get it.” - Charles Woodson – 18-year NFL vet, 65 career interceptions, and lover of wine

Napa Valley is considered one of the premier wine regions in the world. Records of commercial wine production in the region date back to the nineteenth century, but premium wine production dates back only to the 1960s.

The combination of Mediterranean climate, geography and geology of the region are conducive to growing quality wine grapes. John Patchett established the Napa Valley's first commercial vineyard in 1858. In 1861 Charles Krug established another of Napa Valley's first commercial wineries in St. Helena. Viticulture in Napa suffered several setbacks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including an outbreak of the vine disease phylloxera, the institution of Prohibition, and the Great Depression. The wine industry in Napa Valley recovered, and helped by the results of the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, came to be seen as capable of producing the best quality wine – equal to that of Old World wine regions. Napa Valley is now a major enotourism destination.

California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted Vitis vinifera vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. In the 1770s, Spanish missionaries continued the practice under the direction of the Father Junípero Serra planted California's first vineyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The state produces about ninety percent of the American wine supply and is the fourth largest wine producer among the world's independent nations. It has more than 1,200 wineries ranging from home-grown and small boutiques to large corporations with international distribution.

The Monterey County Pinot Noir comes from the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation with a small percentage of Paso Robles fruit. It is fermented in stainless steel with malolactic aging done in barrels, aged in French and European oak for 14 months. Garnet in color, with aromas of strawberry, pastry cream, and nutmeg. This wine is medium-bodied with dusty fine-grained tannins and a long juicy finish. Enjoy with grilled salmon, braised duck, or stuffed Portobello mushrooms.