‘Encantado’ comes from the southernmost vineyard Ashanta worked with in 2022, located just 5.5 miles from the U.S./Mexican border in Dulzura, CA, which sits at 1,800 feet in the lower Peninsular Range. The region is surrounded by steep mountains and has unique soils formed from volcanic rocks that cooled over 90 million years ago. With a significant diurnal temperature shift and a consistent Pacific Ocean breeze, the climate keeps the vines cool in the summer heat. The Riesling grapes were hand-harvested, foot-tread, fermented naturally in stainless steel, aged for 12 months in French oak, and another year in bottle before release.

Origin: Dulzura, CA
ABV: 12.3%
USNW Classification: Natural
Varietal & Type: Riesling
Vintage: 2022

Tasting Notes

Tree fruit, Ocean Water, Zest

Vineyards

5.5 miles from the U.S./Mexican border in Dulzura, CA, which sits at 1,800 feet in the lower Peninsular Range. The region is surrounded by steep mountains and has unique soils formed from volcanic rocks that cooled over 90 million years ago. With a significant diurnal temperature shift and a consistent Pacific Ocean breeze, the climate keeps the vines cool in the summer heat.

About the Winemaker

Chenoa Ashton-Lewis, a 5th generation Oakland native and winemaker, and cinematographer Will Basanta caught the winemaking bug in 2019 when they rushed to Sonoma Mountain to save unsold grapes from Chenoa's family vineyard. With help from family and friends, they made an experimental Syrah and Pinot Noir co-ferment, which was aged for 8 months on the family’s organic vineyard. In 2020, during the quarantine, they discovered new life among the destroyed Pinot Noir vines from the 2017 Nuns Fire and were amazed to find 160 vines bearing fruit. This discovery deepened their passion for winemaking, leading them to collaborate with neighbor Tony Coturri at Coturri Winery for their first commercial vintage under their Ashanta Wines label. Ashanta Wines focuses on terroir-driven, artisanal wines made from family-operated vineyards using organic or biodynamic practices, and is based in Healdsburg, CA.

Shipping Details

US Natural Wine ships once a week, every Wednesday. All orders should be placed by Tuesday at 10am in order to be picked up from our distributors and out on Wednesday's delivery truck. Shipping cost is 30 bucks a box (up to 12 bottles) so we highly encourage picking up more than 1 bottle for the best value!