2023 Monte Rio Cellars 'The Bench' Vermentino Clements Hills Lodi

Winemaker Notes:  The grapes are from the biodynamically farmed Bench Vineyard. They are skin-fermented in open-top tanks for 30 days. The wine is aged for five months before bottling. It has balanced acidity. Apple, apricot blossoms, black tea, pear, and tangerine wrap around the tongue.

Patrick Cappiello got his start in restaurants, his wine career began in 2002 as a Sommelier at Tribeca Grill. As time progressed his roles changed to Wine Director and restaurant owner over the next 15 years. Through connections with countless winemakers and after meeting his current business partner Pax Mahle, the transition to Winemaker was a natural progression for Cappiello. He still serves as Wine Director of Walnut Street Café in Philadelphia. He is Food & Wine host for Playboy and founding member of Winemakers & Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief. His 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry, and Sommelier career has given him access to four of the worlds greatest wine cellars. All have been recipients of Wine Spectators "Grand Award"; TriBeCa Grill, Veritas, GILT, and Pearl & Ash. Mr. Cappiello was named "Sommelier of the Year 2014" by Food & Wine Magazine, "Wine Person of the Year 2014" by Imbibe Magazine, and "Sommelier of the Year 2015" by Eater National.

His winemaking career started in 2018, under the watchful eye of Pax Mahle. Monte Rio focuses on heritage and classic California varieties. Wines are made naturally with no additives and farmed with organic practices. Mr. Cappiello and Mr Mahle collaborate on two wineries; Skull Wines and the Piquette Project.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Wine Enthusiast - "This wine is fresh, vibrant, with aromas of lemon curd, crisp green apple, grapefruit peel, and notes of White tea on the nose. The flavors on the palate are cantaloupe, apricot, Pink grapefruit peel, dried fennel, interwoven with a dry finish."