Our Wines

             

The ETC family of wines are consistent, approachable and true to character, just like good friends and family! Each of the five varietals, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel, are produced to compliment everyday meals. These wines pair easily with grilled meats and veggies, a simple or combo pizza, pasta and even an entreé salad. The vineyard focus for the ETC wines is on Northern California and the final blends emphasize a pure varietal expression and an easy to enjoy alcohol of 12.5%. These are wines to stuff in your picnic basket, sneak into the movie theater, pack for vacation, serve at a family event and especially, to keep on hand for the impromptu BBQ or Friday night neighborhood soireé. Best consumed while dressed in jeans or pj's!

The ETC family of wines are most often sold in small, neighborhood bistros and pizzerias or family owned, independent retail stores.

 

The Et Cetera family of wines are for grown up play dates: stylish, food-friendly and memorable. The focus is on the fruit...Each year, new Northern California vineyards will be found with a fantastic story to tell! This year, it's the Merlo Family's acclaimed Dry Creek Valley vineyard site that is the source for the 2008 Et Cetera Cabernet Sauvignon and 2009 Et Cetera Sauvignon Blanc.

Harry Merlo Sr. began at the age of five crushing grapes with his feet below the railroad tracks in the Italian section of Stirling City, California. His Father, Giuseppe Merlo, an Italian immigrant, was considered the wine steward of the High Sierra lumber town. He would set a washtub on the woodshed floor and dump into it a 50-pound lug of zinfandel grapes and young Harry would begin to stomp. Thus began his association with the wine industry. Harry has often said that he qualifies as a connoisseur of wine because he has purple feet.

The tradition continued with the acquisition of Harry’s vineyard near Geyserville, California in 1965. In the mid 1960’s he delivered his first truckload of grapes to Italian Swiss Colony Winery. They weighed his truck and gave him a receipt priced at $50 per ton.

Family interest in winemaking led his son, Harry Jr., to study viticulture and enology at California State University, Fresno. Following graduation, Harry Jr. ultimately became Manager of Lago di Merlo Vineyards & Winery at the Merlo Ranch in Sonoma County. Under his third generation leadership, the Merlo’s expanded the vineyard to over 200 acres.

The stewardship of this third generation vineyard is expressed in the Et Cetera wines. Mark Beringer and Harry Merlo, Jr. work closely together to ensure that the Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc demonstrate a sense of place and style which reflect the attributes of the acclaimed Dry Creek Valley appellation.

The Dry Creek Valley Et Cetera wines have additional layers of complexity which allow for more specific food pairings such as Oysters on the Half Shell or a slice of grilled Tri-tip with Chimichurri Sauce. Don't be afraid to drink these wines in your best designer jeans or your favorite little black dress!

The Et Cetera family of wines are most often sold in white table cloth restaurants as a by-the-glass pour or in family owned, independent retail stores.