2023 Divergent Vine Chenin Blanc

Region: Clarksburg < California
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic, zero-input farming; sandy loam soils; fermented and aged in 100% stainless steel barrels with extended lees aging; bottled unfined and unfiltered, with 15ppm added S02; 11.5% ABV; 75 cases

Winemaker: Aaron Bryan

• Tiny estate run by husband/wife team who relocated from SF to the Sierra Foothill boons to make natural wine
• Bright, fresh and crisp Chenin that starts prim and proper, and ends with a wild French kiss
• Chamomile, lemon verbena, wool, and golden apple lead into the super zippy finish

More about Divergent/Conduit:

Aaron has a nontraditional winemaking background. A classically trained economist, he fell in love with the art and science of winemaking during his time at UC Santa Barbara. He continued his informal wine education (drinking a lot) in New York City, so when he
moved back to California he started making beer and wine out of his garage in SF's Mission District. Eventually, he met a group of urban winemakers on Treasure Island and started trading beer for a few barrels of cellar space, working with our friend Noel of Purity back in the day. In 2013 he decided to make the leap to full time winemaker, and has been producing Conduit and divergent vine wines and Tag + Jug Cider.  In 2014 Aaron met Amy, who was working for a wine distributor, and they clicked around a shared love of wine and food. They got married, and Amy now runs the back office operations for the three brands. In 2020, after many years or sourcing fruit from California’s Sierra Foothills, Aaron and Amy fell in love with a beautiful piece of property, vineyard, and winery in the Sierra Foothills that has now become the home base of Conduit and Divergent Vine wines, Tag + Jug Cider Co., as well as their own Gold Dust Vineyard.