“Château Montelena seeks to capture the essence of each year’s unique weather in its wines. Therefore, each vintage does not have a uniform flavor. To embody nature as it is, tremendous effort is required to erase the traces of the winemakers, and I believe that is our capability.
Matt Crafton, the head winemaker of Château Montelena winery located in Napa Valley, United States, said this during a meeting with reporters at the House of Shinsegae in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, on the 9th. Shinsegae L&B is the official importer of Château Montelena and will import all wines produced by Château Montelena starting this month.
In particular, Riesling makes its debut in the Korean market. The Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel vintages being released this time will only be available in Korea in Asia.
Château Montelena, established in 1882, is one of the early wineries in Napa Valley. It closed due to Prohibition in the early 20th century but reopened in 1972 when the Barrett family took over. Château Montelena's 1973 Chardonnay gained international fame by winning first place at the 'Judgment of Paris' blind tasting held in France in 1976, surpassing premier wines from Burgundy, France. This wine has been selected as one of the '101 items that made America' and is displayed at the Smithsonian Museum alongside Lincoln's hat and Armstrong's spacesuit.
Château Montelena's Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are already well-known in Korea. These two wines were served when former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden visited Korea. It is also famous as the birthday dinner wine of the late Lee Kun-hee, the chairman of Samsung Electronics.
The newly introduced Riesling in Korea will be produced in fewer than 3,000 bottles annually. Zinfandel is also made from grapes harvested from a single vineyard in Napa Valley, resulting in limited production.
Crafton noted that while the sales volume in the Korean market is not high compared to other countries, it is a market worth noting. He said, “Château Montelena and Korea are similar,” adding, “Just as Korea has rapidly developed and succeeded, leaving a strong impression on the world, Château Montelena is also working hard to create wines that embody nature as is. We want to raise awareness of our wines in the Korean market.”
He added, “Korea is a market with a very high understanding and cultural empathy for wine,” and noted, “especially in the case of premium wines, the growth trend is steep.”
Château Montelena is located in Calistoga at the north end of Napa Valley. The winery is surrounded by a variety of soils and terrains, including marine sediment, volcanic ash soil, and river gravel and clay.
On this day, Crafton introduced ▲Château Montelena Napa Sauvignon Blanc 2023 ▲Château Montelena Napa Chardonnay 2018 ▲Château Montelena Napa Chardonnay 2022 ▲Château Montelena Porter Valley Riesling 2023 ▲Château Montelena Estate Calistoga Zinfandel 2021 ▲Château Montelena Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 ▲Château Montelena Estate Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.
The Sauvignon Blanc 2023 vintage features grapes grown in a cool year, highlighting its unique citrus aroma. The Chardonnay 2022 vintage features grapes grown in a warm year, showcasing the aroma of well-ripened fruit.
Additionally, Zinfandel comes from grapes grown in marine sediment that show traces of the sea, such as shell fossils, providing mineral characteristics and delicacy. The Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Calistoga is grown in a region based on volcanic ash soil, offering robust structure, deep flavor, and excellent aging potential. Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is characterized by grapes grown in gravel that is close to clay, making it soft, elegant, and accessible.
Château Montelena is often introduced as 'new world wine in an old world style', but Crafton described Château Montelena as 'classic'. He stated, “Rather than emphasizing strong oak notes or sweetness, we focus on delicate, balanced structure and aging potential,” and added, “It’s good to drink now, but it will also be a good wine in 50 years.”
A representative from Shinsegae L&B said, “We decided to operate Château Montelena as demand for white wine and U.S. premium wine has been increasing in Korea,” adding, “Through this, we will strengthen the Napa wine portfolio and approach consumers in a new way.”