2019 Tessier Soul Love

The Tessier homepage, with a provocative image the 1965 film Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! and the Velvet Underground line, “Here she comes, you better watch your step,” tells you a lot about Kristie.  She is fierce, and not afraid to flex her power, or her femininity. She’s also incredibly smart. I mean, really, smart -- as in “former microbiologist who worked on the Human Genome Project” smart. In 2006, she left the field of science for wine, but never lost the discipline, bringing that scientific precision and geekiness to her winemaking.

Kristie started her own project in 2009, working with a handful of family-farmed vineyards in NorCal, and at first, played it safe with more conventional California-style wines.  But as she’s learned and grown more confident, she has moved over to the natty side. But first she is a scientist, so although the wines are made in a very low-intervention way, they are clean, precise and balanced.

Here's how Kristie describes her magical red/white elixir, Soul love: "I conceptualized this blend while driving the truck - hauling fruit- during harvest. I wanted to have a glou glou picnic wine! In December, I did blending trials to come up with the best ratios and wine combinations. Then, we put those percentages into a stainless steel tank and bottled it!"

We call it Kool-Aid for adults.  With a groovy label (a tribute to Bowie!) and high-voltage neon pink color, you know it's gonna be fun -- and slurp-able.  It is both, in in spades.   Bright, punchy, and juicy, it tastes like raspberry-guava-hibiscus fruit punch with cranberries and cloves.  There is a surprising amount of power, grip and complexity hidden behind this party-girl exterior.  Never underestimate the power of the pink!  DRINK CHILLED, BUT NOT FREEZING COLD — too much chill will mask the aromatics and complexity.