Amapola Creek's New Rhone-ish Blend - Only 95 Cases Made

Amapola Creek's new estate grown (certified organic) wine - named Cuvee Alis, for proprietor Richard Arrowood's wife - is a blend of 55% Syrah and 45% Grenache - which marks a departure for Arroowood who built his previous brand on the California reliables of Chardonnay and Cabernet.

The new Rhone blend sells for a more affordable $48 a bottle (compared with his Cabs at $80). Only 95 cases were made.

Cuvee Alis the first Rhone blend from Amapola which already has been making Syrahs, Cabernet, and Zinfandel on a mountainside in Sonoma.

Richard Arrowood

The grenache was grown on 8-year-old Syrah vines that were rebudded.