Idlewild Wines, Flora and Fauna 2021, North Coast, CA

Idlewild channels a Piemontese spirit with this bright and juicy blend of Arneis, Muscat Canelli, and Cortese. It’s floral, citrusy, with a little bit of minerality.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: CA

APPELLATION (AVA): North Coast

VINEYARD: Lost Hills Ranch (primary), 

VINTAGE: 2021

GRAPES: 56% Arneis 42% Muscat Canelli 2% Cortese 

SOIL: Sandstone with schist veins, thin top layer of sandy clay

PRACTICE: Holistic

VINIFICATION: Whole cluster pressed, fermented via native yeasts, aged on the lees in neutral oak. Secondary fermentation and aging on lees in neutral oak for four months.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Light gold

BODY: Light 

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Orange blossom, lemon, wet stone, pear

FLAVOR: Crisp, juicy, floral, stone fruit

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 11.9%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Serve chilled. Pairs well with white fish served with lemon.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Idlewild Wines

“Idlewild has a relatively concise aim within a broad context: to produce wines of exceptional balance and beauty. It is a journey to pursue Italy’s Piedmont in the elevated hills of Mendocino County, and to find the sides of these varieties that are intriguing, delicious, and haunting.

Each wine is unique and treated as such, though the common thread is balancing depth and seriousness with vibrancy and joy. Emphasis is on the vineyard followed by minimalist winemaking techniques. While not dogmatic in practice, an honest and sustainable approach is fundamental in making wines of purity.” (idlwildwines.com)

ABOUT THE WINEMAKER: Sam Bilbro

“I grew up hanging out in a winery converted from an old cow barn, walking vineyards, and tasting blends with my dad. Later, while in the restaurant industry, I was exposed to wines from across the globe and was especially struck by the wines of Italy’s Piedmont. Learning natural systems and the world of wine in general was my route to making wine and starting Idlewild. I was also fortunate to have many friends and family to learn from along the way.” (idlewildwines.com)

ABOUT THE VINEYARD: Lost Hills Ranch

“Lost Hills Ranch is a dream. The beautiful loneliness of the open hills and the sentinel oaks covered in Spanish moss project out a sense of calm. The vineyard sits at 1500 ft of elevation, and the roots work hard to dig into fractured sandstone with schist veins and just a thin top layer of sandy clay. The Yorkville Highlands AVA sits along the southwest corner of Mendocino county and is marked by the clash of maritime and continental climates.” (idlewildwines.com)

ABOUT THE NAME: Flora & Fauna

“Flora and Fauna loosely means the collection of plant and animal life of a certain epoch. In my version, it is the collection of varietals from the cellar that make up the blend for the year.” (idlewildwines.com)