From the Mayacamas Mountains to wherever in the world you are staying at home, we hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. These strange times can be lonely and it is our hope that you can feel connected to your friends and family by enjoying Byrd Vineyard wine together — even if that has to happen virtually.
To help you feel connected, we curated this list of our best wines to enjoy from home. We hope that you are able to take some time to de-stress, pop the cork, and experience high-quality wine from the comfort of your own living room. Our wines are best enjoyed alongside a hearty meal, crackling fireplace, and a table (or Zoom chatroom) filled with loved ones. Enjoy!
2012 Byrd Vineyard Red Wine Mendocino
Bold, smooth, and full-bodied, our Silver Medal-winning 2012 Red Wine Mendocino is the perfect wine to enjoy alongside a hearty, home-cooked meal and conversation among friends.
Fruit-forward with notes of red and black fruits including cherries, blueberries, raspberries, and plums, this versatile wine would deliciously complement any meaty entrée from a tender prime rib to a lusciously saucy chicken parmesan. With aromas of warm spices including tobacco, clove, vanilla, and dark chocolate, this wine is best enjoyed under a blanket or by the fireplace on a cold winter evening.
Call some friends for a virtual game night or enjoy during a movie night with family.
Who says you can’t enjoy an elegant night in? Our Double Gold Medal winning Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino is the perfect wine to enjoy on a cozy night in with a beautiful steak dinner. Silky, rich, and bold, this wine is sure to elevate any date night at home.
Light some candles and pair with heavy, meaty dishes such as a beef tenderloin, ribeye, or braised short ribs. With a deep ruby color, smooth oaky finish, and notes of cherry and vanilla, this wine will truly make any night unforgettable — even if you’ll be spending it on your couch.
2010 Byrdeaux Red Wine
Fruit-forward and earthy, our 2010 Byrdeaux highlights notes of intense red and black fruits including blueberries, cherries, and raspberries. Deep red with a smooth finish, its soft tannins complement its acidity and subtle sweetness.
The wine’s autumnal aromas of warm spices, sweet tobacco leaf, and nutmeg call for a cozy and hearty meal of anything from a roast beef to turkey dinner with all the sides. Whether you are able to sit at a table full of family and friends or if you have to do so over video chat, our Byrdeaux is the perfect wine to share with loved ones and plenty of food!
2009 Byrd Cabernet Sauvignon
If you’re looking for an excuse to gorge on courses of rich, creamy, and meaty dishes, consider this it! The ultimate wine to be enjoyed with a delectable meal on a cold winter night, our 2009 Byrd Cabernet Sauvignon is meant to be savored. Pair with a mouth-watering steak, creamy macaroni and cheese, or sinfully buttery mashed potatoes. Don’t feel like cooking? This wine also pairs perfectly with take out food. You’re welcome!
Subtle notes of black fruits, graphite, and cocoa, along with a dark ruby color and fine, soft tannins all come together to make this wine something special. Enjoy on its own, with a variety of smoky and herbed cheeses, or go all out with a meat-centered dinner with all the sides!
Enjoy Byrd Vineyard Wine — Without Leaving Your Home
Connecting with friends and family who do not live nearby has often felt challenging these past months due to lockdown. Thankfully, Byrd Vineyard ships to most of the country so your favorite wines can be enjoyed together with loved ones near and far — delivered straight to your door so you won’t even have to leave your home. Check out our Shipping & Sales Information to ensure that we can ship to your state and for more details on wine delivery.
Wishing you peace, love and rock’n’roll in 2021 and beyond!
Up high in the Mayacamas Range lies California’s most unique winegrowing region, complete with high altitudes and a sunny mountain climate. This special environment lends itself to bold wines with rich flavors and low tannins. While each and every component of our wines here at Byrd Vineyard are important to the overall quality, the importance of tannins can sometimes be a source of confusion. What are tannins and what role do they play in wine tasting? How do they affect the overall taste and texture of the wine? And why does Byrd Vineyard pride itself on its low tannin red wine?
What are tannins and why are they important?
Put simply, tannins are phenolic compounds found in the wine that leave a bitter and puckery feeling in the mouth. These compounds originate inside the skin, seeds, and stems of the grapes and are carefully extracted into red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux.
Tannins are important because the drying sensation that they provide brings texture and mouth-feel to the wine, as well as a sense of structure and balance. Without tannins, wine could taste too sweet or feel unbalanced like something is not quite right! Tannins are also the reason why red wine pairs so well with red meat — the drying sensation of the tannins pleasantly complements the rich fattiness of steak and other hearty dishes.
Lastly, tannins are important because they define the character of the wine. By adding texture, mouth-feel, and complexity, tannins can elevate a good wine to a fantastic (and award-winning) wine.
How do they affect the taste, texture, and overall quality of the wine?
A wine expert would never describe a wine as “well-balanced” without the presence of tannins. The harmonious combination of acids, sugars, alcohol, and tannins creates a well-structured wine that is complex and enjoyable.
High tannins create wine that would be described as “dry” due to the bitter and puckering sensations that tannins are known for. On the other hand, wines with lower levels of tannins are described as round, smooth, and soft. Their velvety, pleasing texture is easy to drink and not too tannic or astringent.
Low tannins create red wine that is neither too dry nor too sweet. Those who are not the biggest fans of bitter flavors like dark chocolate or coffee may prefer wines low in tannins, as they are more fruit-forward and less bitter.
Tannins are also high in antioxidants, or nutrients found in food that can also work to preserve wine. Antioxidants benefit both the wine (by allowing it to age gracefully) and those who drink it (by providing health benefits including improving heart health). As if you needed another reason to reach for a bottle of red wine!
Why low tannin wine?
The strength of a wine’s tannins can be a result of the climate where the grapes were grown. In our case at Byrd Vineyard, our high-altitude mountain climate creates smaller grapes that are high in acids and flavor and low in tannins.
Low tannin red wine has a beautiful, smooth texture and is not too bitter or astringent. Byrd Vineyard’s red wines are said to be soft and smooth, as well as even-textured and round. Our complex red wines with their low tannins and high acids are structured perfectly — allowing for each sip to be well-balanced and harmonious.
Our high altitude and mountain soil work together to actually change the way that grapes are formed in comparison to other winegrowing regions. For example, our grapes have thicker skins and smaller berry sizes due to the solar intensity that comes as a result of our high altitude. Richer tannins and bolder flavor also increase with altitude. As a result of our unique terroir here at Byrd Vineyard, our low tannins wines are unlike any you’ve experienced before.
When it comes to the world of wine, memorizing the countless terms and phrases can seem almost as complicated as learning a new language. Anyone from a novice wine taster to an experienced wine aficionado is sure to have a question or two when it comes to learning about our unique high altitude wines here at Byrd Vineyard. That’s why we created this handy wine term glossary and FAQ guide — so that you can be as informed as possible when discovering what makes Byrd Vineyard’s wines so special!
Vineyard vocabulary
Words like “high altitude wine” and “volcanic ferrous content” are used to describe our wines, but what do these terms really mean? How do they contribute to differentiating our wines from the many others produced throughout California?
What is High Altitude Wine and what makes it so special?
High altitude wine is grown in vineyards at high elevation such as the 2,400-foot mountains of the Mayacamas Range where Byrd Vineyard is located. High elevation creates a desired combination of increased solar rays, greater temperature fluctuation, optimal rocky soil, and crisp mountain freshness that results in wine with an intensity of color, flavor, and tannins.
What is Terroir and how would you describe Byrd Vineyard’s?
Terroir is used to describe geographical characteristics unique to a given vineyard. These characteristics such as the region’s climate, soil, and terrain greatly affect the taste of the wine and can result in unique wine unlike any other. Additionally, altitude is an important factor in the vineyard’s expression of terroir. The high altitude terrain of Byrd Vineyard results in high quality wine high in antioxidants and concentrated with flavor.
What is Vintage and why is it important?
A wine’s vintage is the year that its grapes were harvested. The wine’s vintage can dramatically affect its taste and quality due to the change in weather during the growing season of that particular year. Years with plenty of sunny days lead to flavorful grapes that reach optimal ripeness, resulting in delicious and fruit-forward wine.
What is Volcanic Ferrous Content and how does it affect the wine?
Soil high in volcanic ferrous content results in fine and distinctive wines. Volcanic soil is high in minerals and often results in small grapes concentrated with flavor and high in acid.
Wine making process vocabulary
The wine-making process can seem overwhelmingly complicated when first learning about its many nuances and steps. These basic terms describe some of the most important steps of the wine making process.
What is Aeration and why is it important?
Aeration is the addition of oxygen to wine in order to round out and soften a wine. Giving the wine a chance to “breathe” changes the flavor of the wine and allows for a smooth sipping experience.
What is Aging and why it is important?
Aging wine refers to holding wine in barrels or bottles to advance their flavors and textures to a more desirable state.
What is Extraction and how does it affect the wine?
Extraction is a process for making red wine that involves extracting phenolic compounds such as flavors, tannins, and color. The longer and more aggressive the extraction, the stronger and more robust the wine.
Wine tasting vocabulary
There are a multitude of ways to describe all aspects of wine, from its flavor to its texture and even its health properties such as antioxidants. To get a better sense of what these terms really mean, take a look at these wine tasting vocabulary words!
What is Acidity and why is high acidity good?
Acidity is the perceived level of crispness or sharpness of wine. A wine needs high levels of acid in order to provide liveliness and balance.
What is Alcohol Content and how does it affect a wine’s body?
Alcohol content is the amount of ethanol in a given volume of liquid. Alcohol content affects the flavor of a wine by changing the flavor harmony, body, and even perceived taste.
What are Antioxidants and what are their benefits?
Antioxidants, or polyphenols, are compounds found in red wine. Antioxidants have been found to have many health benefits including improving heart health.
What is a wine’s Aroma and what are some examples?
The aroma is the smell of the wine. The aroma can be floral, citrus, fruity, herbaceous, vegetal, earthy, or a number of other scents.
What does it mean for a wine to be Balanced?
Balance refers to when the elements of wine including acids, sugars, tannins, and alcohol come together in a pleasing and harmonious way.
What does it mean when a wine is described as Bright?
A bright wine refers to lively, fresh-tasting wines that make your mouth water with focused flavor.
What does it mean when a wine is described as Complex?
A complex wine has many layers to it and exhibits numerous odors, nuances, and flavors. The flavor of complex wine can change from the moment you taste it to the moment you swallow it. Complex wine is said to have depth.
What does it mean when a wine is described as Dry?
Dry wine refers to a taste sensation attributed to tannins that causes puckering in the mouth. Dry wine is a result of all of the grape’s sugars being converted to alcohol. Dry wine is the opposite of sweet wine, which still has residual sugars left from the grapes.
What does it mean when a wine is described as Earthy?
Earthy wine refers to an odor or flavor reminiscent of the earth, soil, or even mushrooms.
What is a wine’s Finish and why is it important?
A wine’s finish refers to the lingering flavors or textures that remain in your mouth after swallowing wine. Finish is an important aspect to pay attention to when judging quality wine, as a long finish is often a sign of quality.
What are Flavonoids and what do they contribute to a wine?
Flavonoids are nutrients found in fruits and vegetables that provide health benefits as well as vivid color to fruits such as grapes. Flavonoids contribute to the flavor and mouthfeel of wine.
What does it mean when a wine is described as Full-bodied?
Full-bodied wine refers to wine that is high in both alcohol and flavor. Most full-bodied wines are red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Bordeaux. Full-bodied wines have complex flavors and a rich mouthfeel.
What does it mean when a wine is described as Herbaceous?
Herbaceous wine refers to odors or flavors of fresh herbs such as oregano, rosemary, or basil. Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine variety that is commonly positively described as herbaceous.
What is Length when describing a wine?
Length is used to describe the amount of time that the wine’s taste stays in your mouth after swallowing. The longer the lingering sensation, the higher quality the wine.
What is Mouth-feel when describing a wine?
Mouth-feel is used to describe how a wine feels on your palate. Mouth-feel can be rough, silky, smooth, or velvety. Mouth-feel is influenced by factors including alcohol, acidity, and tannins.
What does it mean when a wine is described as Oaky?
Oaky wine refers to aromas and flavors of vanilla, baking spices, coconut, and mocha that come from aging the wine in oak barrels.
What are Phenolic Compounds and what do they contribute to the wine?
Phenolic compounds are natural compounds found in the skins and seeds of grapes. These compounds affect the taste, color, and mouth-feel of the wine.
What does it mean when a wine is described as Round or Smooth?
When wine is described as round or smooth, it describes a wine that has soft tannins and a pleasing texture. Round and smooth wines are velvety and easy to drink and they are not coarse or tannic.
What is a wine’s Structure?
Structure is a tasting term that refers to harmony of fruit, alcohol, tannins, and acidity. A well-structured wine is also well-balanced.
What does it mean when a wine is described as Sweet?
Sweet is a tasting term referring to perceptible flavors and odors of sugar in the wine. Sweet wine is the opposite of dry wine.
What are Tannins and why are they important? What are soft tannins/low tannins?
Tannins are phenolic compounds in the wine that leave a bitter, dry, puckery feeling in the mouth. Tannins are important because they provide texture and mouth-feel to the wine, as well as a sense of structure and balance. Soft tannins are no longer astringent and result in smooth wine. Low tannin red wines are even-textured and round.
Young couple have romantic dinner with wine over fireplace background.
Nothing compares to the cozy feeling of burrowing under a blanket by a roaring fireplace on the coldest and darkest of winter nights. The coziness level increases exponentially when you have your favorite movie playing in the background, a hearty home-cooked meal in front of you, and a glass of red wine in-hand.
To make the most of your cold-weather red wine, be sure to serve alongside rich and meaty dishes that can fully bring out their bold flavors. Without further ado, grab some blankets and candles and get cozy — here are Byrd Vineyard’s wine pairings for cold winter nights.
2010 Byrd Merlot
A smooth wine with hints of red fruits and a long finish, our Merlot pairs beautifully with any hearty meal. Its soft tannins, fruit-forward flavors, and round body make this wine incredibly versatile. In fact, it would pair wonderfully with anything from chicken to red meat.
On a cold winter night, nothing beats a slow-cooked meal in the crockpot. Slow-cooker tacos with tender lamb, pork, or chicken would pair beautifully with a Merlot. Similarly, a white bean chili with chicken is as comforting on a chilly winter night as it is easy to throw together. Ladle into a bowl, light some candles, and pour a glass of Byrd Merlot — and you’ve got yourself an easy and cozy dinner.
Merlot also pairs amazingly with tomato-based Italian dishes. Its subtly sweet flavors bring out the richness in the sauce in dishes such as lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken parmesan. Mellow Merlot also complements the umami flavors of mushrooms and creamy sauces. A wonderful dish to pair it with would be a creamy parmesan pasta with chicken and mushrooms or even a macaroni and cheese.
A cold night is a perfect night for some good-old-fashioned comfort food. A homemade pizza, chicken pot pie, or classic tomato soup and grilled cheese combo would taste amazing when paired with a glass of Byrd Merlot. The meal doesn’t have to be fancy or over-the-top to be delicious and comforting! Since our Merlot is so flexible and pairs well with practically any dish, follow your heart and pair with any comfort food you desire.
2010 Byrd Vineyard Mendocino Merlot
On the nose, vanilla and blackberry lead, and the palate follows with berry pie and ripe plum. The mouthfeel is refreshing, gentle even, and the tannins have softened considerably. Enjoy a medium to long finish that is silky.
Big, bold Cabernet Sauvignon is a fan-favorite for a cold winter evening meal. With notes of vanilla, tobacco, and warm spices, it is the ultimate cozy winter wine. Just add snow-covered treetops outside, a crackling fireplace inside, and a hearty, meat-based dinner.
Layered and complex, Cabernet Sauvignon pairs extremely well with rich, creamy, and meaty dishes — the meatier the better. Whether a ribeye, sirloin, beef tenderloin, or roast beef, any cut of steak would be perfectly complemented by a savory Cabernet Sauvignon. Brisket, pot roast, or braised short ribs cooked in red wine are sure-fire favorites, as their luscious sauces complement the wine wonderfully. A hot bowl of beef stew would also do the trick, especially when seasoned with herby and umami flavors such as rosemary, mushrooms, and garlic.
Don’t shy away from the classics when pairing your Cabernet Sauvignon. A classic cheeseburger is composed of the two most popular elements to pair with Cabernet Sauvignon — meat and cheese. Whether you opt to grill a classic burger or add extra-special touches such as grilled mushrooms, crumbly blue cheese, or smoky BBQ sauce, the pairing is sure to be out of this world.
When considering side dishes, creamy mashed potatoes and garlic roasted vegetables such as carrots or brussel sprouts would be delectable selections. A creamy and rich macaroni and cheese wouldn’t hurt, either. Also, a cheese board filled with smoky gouda, herbed brie, and aged cheddar as an appetizer or for dessert would certainly pair well with the wine. On a chilly winter evening, there is no such thing as too much meat or cheese!
With aromas of red and black fruits, cocoa, and warm spices along with fine tannins, our 2009 Byrd Cabernet Sauvignon is something special to be enjoyed with friends, family, and delicious food. Grab some blankets and enjoy!
2009 Byrd Vineyard Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon
With your first sip, baking spices leap to the front – nutmeg and cardamom. Blackberries, overripe raspberries, and a touch of boysenberry create a core that holds the frame up of this generous and balanced wine. The finish lingers but does not overstay it welcome.
