An Introduction to Turkovich Family Wines

Turkovich Family Wines
An Introduction 



The Button & Turkovich Vineyard
Planted in 2007, the Button & Turkovich Estate Vineyard is home to 20 acres of winegrapes surrounded by rich agricultural land and soaked in the warm California sun.

Expanses of golden rolling hills are dotted with patches of green — oak trees and vineyards — and are tucked in against the Vaca Mountains. The great gravelly-clay-loam soils, along with warm days and temperate nights, allow the vines to produce excellent grapes. The Winters area features a unique convergence: where the delta breezes cease, they are met by cool winds sweeping down off Lake Berryessa, allowing for a long, mild growing season.

The vineyard’s ideal conditions make for rich fruit exhibiting bright, flavorful characteristics in the resulting wines.

Rhone varieties Syrah and Viognier have proven themselves to be the stars of the show, along with the Spanish varietal Tempranillo and California’s workhorse, Petite Sirah. Grenache and Mourvedre are also showing immense potential. ~Turkovichfamilywines

History, as told by the family:
The Turkovich Family started in Winters in 1957 when Tony's father Walt and mother Helen decided in mid life that they wanted to farm instead of run a gas station in Richmond, California. They bought some acreage in Winters and after several years when their prune orchard was mature, the family moved to the farm in 1961. Tony was active in the Winters school system and worked for his father and other agricultural operations. He went to Cal Poly, SLO in agricultural engineering, graduated and got a MBA at USC before coming back to Winters and began working for Robert and Martha Button to help manage their farming operation.  Tony has been farming in partnership as Button & Turkovich for 35 years-they farm row crops (processing tomatoes, alfalfa, sunflower, vineseeds), orchards (prunes and oranges) and now wine grapes. 

Chris is the middle boy in the Turkovich family.  He attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, like the rest of his family, and holds a degree in Wine & Viticulture. Chris has worked at some of the world’s most prestigious  wineries.  This list includes Veramonte in Chile, Chapel Hill Winery in Australia, and Kim Crawford in New Zealand.  He has also worked more locally at Edna Valley Vineyards in San Luis Obispo and RH Phillips in the Dunnigan Hills.  This exposure to various regions and grape varieties allows Chris to bring a truly unique flair to his winemaking style. His responsibilities include working on the Button & Turkovich Ranch as a field supervisor and vineyard manager as well as making wine alongside his wife for Turkovich Family Wines. His hobbies include traveling, hunting, running, skiing, cycling and participating in triathlons.

Luciana was born and raised in Argentina’s famous wine region, Mendoza. She has a rich history of wine in her family. Her mother operates her family’s small vineyard and her father, Norberto Moreno, has been a successful Winemaker for the last 45 years. Luciana graduated in 2010 in Food Science with a specialization in Wine, Wine Microbiology and Chemistry from the oldest enological university in all of the Americas, the University of Don Bosco in Mendoza, Argentina. Luciana has had the opportunity to work with a number of prestigious wineries in Argentina, including: Chandon Mendoza, Clos de los Sietes, Terrazas, La Septima, Mumm Mendoza, Bodegas Bianchi, Navarro Correas, and San Telmo. In 2009 she worked for Coreole Vineyards, a small family owned winery in MacLaren Vale, South Australia. Following her stint down under, Luciana moved to California to work for Silver Oak. In the early stages of Turkovich Family Wines, Luciana split her time between Napa and Winters, helping to establish the young winery with her husband, Chris.  In 2012, she left Silver Oak to focus on Turkovich Family Wines full-time. Currently, Luciana is the head winemaker for Turkovich Family Wines where she focuses on crafting the best wines possible in Winters’ unique terroir.

Visiting the Tasting Room

turkovichwines.com

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304 Railroad Ave, Winters, CA 95694

Phone: (530) 795-3842

Hours:

Wine Tasting 11am-5pm DAILY
Food & Flights 5pm-9pm Thursday – Saturday

With the warm Mediterranean climate, this area of California is key for growing perfumed and hypnotic Spanish and Rhône varieties. Lake Berryessa is just a stone's throw away, and is vital to keeping the vineyards cool at night in order to help with the slow ripening which helps the grapes retain their acidity.

Atmosphere: Everything in this tasting room is meant to cater to the senses; the colors of the room are visually stunning, the textures of the fabrics on the lounge chairs are as velvety as the body of their Syrah. The attention to detail with decoration mimics the attention given with the quality of wine and the many layers each bottle possesses; just when you think you've see it all or 'picked out all the aromas in your glass' you discover something new. 

Service: Turkovich takes pride in educating and having well educated staff; from the pouring of the wine, to the presentation and story behind each glass. I found myself impressed time and time again and lucky to be apart of this winery's harvest.  

Tasting Tools: Great large engraved glasses. Spit buckets handy. Water nearby. Bread sticks. Great lighting.

Wine Availability: Sold at the tasting room, their website, Whole Foods and a number of other supermarkets in Davis and other nearby cities. 

Cost: Complementary tasting.

Picnic Prospects: Beautifully decorated outside area with patio sofas, plenty of throw pillows and umbrellas for shade.

Besides wine the Turkovich family also makes cheese!

Albarino 2015,  ALC 13.2%

352 Cases Produced

Expressive of its terroir, but also a wonderful example of this variety being done right in another country besides Spain.

I can just get lost in the intense aromas of pineapple, flowers, and stone fruit the nose presents on this wine. 

For the body I got a dry, medium + refreshing acidity, medium body, and a medium + flavor intensity of ripe lemon, and orange zest. Medium zesty finish.

Roussanne 2014

148 cases produced

This white presented a unique nose of grassiness, hay, herbs, citrus, minerality, and a touch of savory notes.

The body was dry, medium acidity, medium body, and a medium intensity of flavors of citrus fruits, citrus pith, and whispers of grassy notes. Medium citrus finish. 

Estate White Blend 2015,  ALC 14%
151 Cases Produced
Aged in 85% new American puncheon
39% Roussanne, 35% Chardonnay, 26% Viognier
I am in love with this wine! The nose hypnotized me with its aromas of honeysuckle, vanilla bean, and ripe citrus fruits.
On the palate I got a medium + body, medium + balanced acidity, and a medium + flavor intensity of flavors of citrus, flowers, sweet nuts, and hints of vanilla.

Chardonnay 2015, ALC14%
497 Cases Produced
Aged in 27% new American puncheon
Nose: Butter, sweet cream, and ripe citrus fruits, papaya on the back notes, then I'm left with slight tinges of dried mangoes and flowers.
Palate: Dry, silky medium + body, medium acidity, and a powerhouse of flavors of lemon cream pie, grapefruit, juicy orange and orange zest. The citrus and spice finish lingers on and on!

Tempranillo 2014
98% Tempranillo 2% Tannat
18 months in 33% new American & French Oak
Nose of dried red currant, black cherry, leather and heavy notes of toasty vanilla.
A beautiful silky medium body, medium + tannins, and a medium + acidity to balance it out. This is a fruit forward red with a hint of spice!  Flavors of ripe red berries, such as cranberry and cherry danced on my palate, leaving me with a medium finish.

Tannat 2014

98% Tannat 2% Syrah

18 months in 35% new American oak barrels

Deep black berries, and five spice take the nose on an adventure.

Medium through and through for the palate, and the flavors mirror the nose.

GSM ( 33% Syrah, 38% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre) 2014,  ALC 14.2%
Oak Ageing: 37% New American & European Oak
The nose on this was insane! Vibrant red berries, plum, and perfumed floral notes.
On the palate I got a lush medium body, soft medium tannins, medium acidity, and flavors of black berries, tobacco, and savory notes to finish off with. 

 

Mourvedre 2014
96% Mourvedre 4% Syrah
18 months in 27% new American oak
Imagine eating a red berry pie in the middle of a forest and these are the scents you get on the nose of this red!
Off-dry, medium body, medium soft tannins, and a medium acidity accompanied by flavors of candied cranberry, chocolate, and juicy cherry.

The Boss 2014

71% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah, 7% Tannat, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon

18 months in 38% New American & European Oak

Medium + intensity on the nose of dark plum, macerated blackberry, chocolate  flakes, and chalk in the background.  

Palate: Off-dry, full body, high grippy tannins, medium + mouthwatering acidity, and a medium + intensity of flavors of ripe black plum, cherry jam, black pepper and a medium finish.

Rosé Sparkling Extra Brut
159 Cases Produced
Blend: Tempranillo & Grenache

Light nose of tart red berries, and hints of citrus.
The dry palate has a beautiful mousse feel for the bubbles, medium - body, medium acidity, and a medium - flavor intensity of tart red fruits, ripe grapefruit, and slight hints of dried rose petals.
Medium + citrus finish.

Syrah!!!

This is something I was looking for before I even started looking for it!

(Syrah95% -Viognier 5%) 2014,  ALC 14.1%

452 Cases Aged 18 months in 35% New American & French Oak

I was in awe with the nose of this wine! The aromas of blackberry, slight hints of dark chocolate shavings, forest floor, vanilla, and dried roses will leave you craving for more.

The palate was dry but juicy, medium + body, medium + grippy tannins, so let this red breath a bit! Medium acidity and a medium + flavor intensity of flavors of black cherry, black berry, and sweet pipe tobacco met with black pepper.  I was left with a medium + toasty black fruit finish.