Three Sticks Wine Offer

We hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July!

Here at Mayacama, we celebrated with sunshine, great company, and a festive Sip ‘N Swing featuring the wines of Vintner Member Three Sticks. Guests enjoyed Rosé and Single Vineyard Estate selections out on the course, then reconvened in the clubhouse to taste through the Monopole Vineyards of Alana and One Sky—served from a Double Magnum, no less!

As we keep the celebration going, we’re pleased to share the wines from this evening as our latest wine offering. For those who joined us, and those who wish they had, we’re offering a couple of the wines in Magnum format, perfect for sharing and special occasions.

If you haven’t been down to the town of Sonoma to check out the beautiful Three Sticks tasting room in the historic Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe yet, get on that! It’s a wonderful experience; a one-of-a-kind tasting in an original Adobe built in 1842 by Salvador Vallejo, brother to General Mariano Vallejo. 

The 2024 Casteñada Rosé is a Rhône-inspired blend, all from the Durell Vineyard. It’s made in the saignée method (French for: to have bled), where the winemakers will bleed off some of the lighter juice during the maceration process, creating a Rosé that takes on some of the characteristics of its red components while staying light and soft. A kinder, gentler, Rhône blend— think Russel Crowe after a Yoga retreat.

The 2022 Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir is where it all began for Three Sticks. An Estate vineyard, purchased by Bill Price in 1996, the first Three Sticks wine was released in 2002- a Three Sticks Durrell Vineyard Pinot Noir. Split between the two AVA’s of Sonoma Valley and Carneros, the vineyard can technically claim any of three AVA’s including the overarching Sonoma Coast. A lower yielding vintage due to uneven flowering, the quality was there with beautiful fruit. A late bloomer, if you will.

The 2023 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay is an icon. How many times have we had a Gap’s Crown Vineyard wine from a top producer that spoke to the beauty and clarity of the fruit? There’s just something about this vineyard, on the western slopes of Sonoma Mountain, across the valley from the Petaluma Gap itself that speaks to the region—alternating between wind, fog, and sun—these grapes wear sunglasses and a vest, all they need is a pair of Blundstone boots, and they’ll be rocking a full Sonoma outfit. Three Sticks takes full use of the home court advantage with Gap’s Crown, bringing in their best lots.

The 2021 Alana Vineyard Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley is from the tiny, 1.5-acre plot on a 6-acre vineyard, planted by Three Sticks. Alana is special because it was the first vineyard designed and built from the ground up exclusively for Three Sticks. The land was purchased in 2008, and the vineyard was planted in 2010, the year Alana (Bill’s daughter) was born. Sitting roughly 600 feet above sea level, Alana is largely influenced by the Pacific Ocean, just 8 miles to the west. It’s their smallest site, but mighty, producing a medium-plus bodied chardonnay from an otherwise cooler vintage, and the quality of the vineyard continues to grow with each passing season.

It’s safe to say One Sky is one of Three Sticks’ more beautiful properties, nestled on the top of rural Sonoma Mountain. The site is unusually high up Sonoma Mountain for Pinot Noir and Chardonnays; sitting at 1,300 ft, it hosts some of the highest elevation vines in the entire AVA. A gorgeous expanse, way up near the crest, neighbored by some of the oldest Pinot Noir vines in all of Sonoma. I’m looking forward to seeing how this vineyard will continue to mature.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the Mayacama wine program. We’re excited to offer these exceptional wines to our Members, and I encourage you to reach out with any questions or requests! I’m always happy to chat wine.

Cheers!

Jared Hooper, Wine Director

WINES BEING OFFERED:

2024 Rosé, “Casteñada,” Sonoma Coast ($45/btl, 3-bottle minimum)

2023 Chardonnay, Gaps Crown Vineyard, Sonoma Coast ($70/btl, 3-bottle minimum)

2022 Pinot Noir, Durell Vineyard, Sonoma Coast ($75/btl, 3-bottle minimum)

2021 Chardonnay, Alana Vineyard, Russian River Valley 1.5 L ($160/btl)

2022 Pinot Noir, One Sky Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain 1.5L ($180/btl)