Producer · California, United States

Truchard

Truchard is a family estate in Los Carneros, California. Tony Truchard saw what this cool, foggy spot could do long before most people, and bought an old eight-hectare orchard here in the 1970s.

Locals told him it was too cool and too dry for vines. He proved them wrong by catching rainwater in clay reservoirs and using drip irrigation before anyone else in the state. As neighbours sold him their farms, the estate grew to 162 hectares, with 113 now planted and farmed sustainably. A warmer pocket in the foothills means even Cabernet Sauvignon ripens well.

For 15 years the family sold grapes to Napa wineries, then began making their own in 1989. They still keep 20% of the crop for themselves. Tony's son Anthony runs things now, with Tony still out in the vines.

Roussanne · £29.99 a bottle