Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
$75 (Wine Club Reorder Price: $63)
Avaia Cellars was founded by Jon Roleder, a serial entrepreneur who has always had a passion for wine and a dream of making his own wine.
Jon started his entrepreneurship ventures at a young age, learning woodworking from his father, then becoming a janitor at age 12 in a church where his father was a pastor. In college, he started a janitorial business that grew to over 20 employees. Later, he owned a furniture manufacturing business that made cedar chests, and then a company that made massage tables. Eventually pivoting toward the wine business, he started Modern Cooperage, a Northern California company that makes stainless steel wine barrels with customizable wooden staves in the interior.
Somewhere in the middle of all his ventures, he purchased land in Napa with the goal of eventually moving there and making wine. Although his plans were delayed for a few years, Jon eventually decided the time was right. His first runs making wine in his steel barrels were primarily designed to be a proof of concept for the new barrel system he designed. Jon really was passionate about being hands-on with the winemaking so he could fine-tune the barrel through a winemaker’s eyes – 2018 being the “a-ha” vintage where he felt he had achieved a level to meet or exceed the quality of the best French coopers in traditional barrique. Jon believes his barrel system preserves freshness and purity of fruit that can be masked in traditional barrels and methods. Make no mistake, this is a big California Cab just begging for you to open it alongside a beautiful steak. Only 2 Barrels Produced.
Destemmed then Hand Sorted
Barrel Fermented in Modern Cooperage Barrel System equivalent to 60% New French Oak
Medium stir (“batonnage nouveau”) once weekly in MC barrel for 2 months.
Staves removed at 18 months, total time in barrel 3 years, bottled 10/21.
Winemaker: Jon Roleder
Alcohol: 14.6% abv
Bacchus & Venus Wines 