ZEITGEIST (tsit- gist) is a philosophical term meaning the spirit of the times. The word was coined by the German Romanticists to describe the cultural, ethical and spiritual mood of an era.
Zeitgeist Cellars is a collaboration between husband and wife, Mark Porembski (winemaker at Anomaly Vineyards and Unwritten and founder of Band of Vitners) and Jennifer Williams (former winemaker at Spottswoode Estate and Pahlmeyer, and current winemaker at Arrow&Branch and Kelly Fleming).
After graduating from Cal Poly, Jen worked over 20 harvests in Napa and the Central Coast and also spent time in Rioja Alavesa, Spain.
Mark was drawn to wine years ago thanks to the relaxed underage drinking policies of waiters in Boston’s North End! With a poetry degree in hand and a budding interest in wine, Mark moved to California in 2000. The idea of helping around some cellars eventually turned into a career. He has worked in many small Napa Valley wineries and has also made wine in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
They are committed to a handful of carefully chosen vineyards, sort vigilantly through the fruit at harvest, and bottle only the best barrels. Their goal is to be thoughtful in their approach and simple in their methods. They make each exceptionally small batch of wine themselves and guide them carefully through fermentation and aging. The results are two beautiful Heritage white varietals and a small selection of excellent Cabernet Sauvignons.
The Vineyards
Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard
The Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard is located in the town of Fulton in Sonoma County. Planted in 1981, it is believed to be the largest planting of Trousseau Gris in the world. Peter Fanucchi and his family chose Trousseau Gris because they saw that the cool coastal influences of the Russian River Valley were very similar to the climate in Eastern France where the grape originated. Their white wine program began with Trousseau Gris, and they are honored to be able to work with this Heritage site.
The Mystery St. Helena Chenin Vineyard
With Vintners getting quite competitive over their fruit sourcing, we’ve decided to leave the location of our Chenin Vineyard a mystery. The vines are from another time—when Chenin was much more widely planted in Napa Valley. They love that this varietal has evolved into a Heritage white, their favorite type with which to work. Old-vine and sometimes a little cranky, these vines lend a maturity and touch of wisdom to the Zeitgeist Chenin Blanc.
Lewelling Ranch
Along the western hills in St. Helena, lies an incredible parcel for growing Cabernet. This neighborhood has many well-known Cabernet vineyards, and at the heart of it lies Lewelling Ranch. Located just at the base of the Mayacamas range, this vineyard sits in an ancient alluvial fan. This fan is part of a historic creek bed, with soils consisting of cobble, creek wash and gravelly sand (known as Cortina). This soil is quick to drain, enabling natural management of the moisture in the vine’s microclimate. Wines made from this neighborhood tend to be plush, fruit driven and rich.
Oakville Station
Their latest vineyard designate Cabernet Sauvignon, the Oakville Station Cabernet Sauvignon hails from a vineyard surrounded on three sides by the illustrious To Kalon vineyard, and on the western and fourth side by the renowned Martha’s Vineyard. This is the tenderloin of the Napa Valley. It has been planted to Cabernet for at least 100 years and makes classic wines that are balanced, warm and charming.
The Rafael Vineyard
Jen and Mark feel fortunate to have been recommended to this vineyard by dear friends. It is an old-vine planting of Cabernet Sauvignon in the southwest corner of the Oak Knoll appellation. Their block jets out toward the valley and has a wonderous view. The vines date from the early 1980’s and make dark, brooding and powerful wines.
The Sleeping Lady Vineyard
Resting against the western hills, just south of the town of Yountville, lies the Sleeping Lady Vineyard. It is named after the silhouette that the ridge line just above the vineyard makes against the skyline. The soils at Sleeping Lady are quite rocky, comprised mostly of cobble wash. Cool summer mornings and marine influence give respite to the vines. Although the vineyard is not a mountain site, the resulting wines tend to possess an intense and structured character. It is the first site from which they bottled a vineyard designate Cabernet Sauvignon in 2012. Sleeping Lady is owned and farmed by the Bettinelli family, who are trustworthy stewards of the land as well as meticulous farmers. They are fortunate to purchase fruit from a one-acre section.
The Wines
Trousseau Gris, Russian River Valley
They press the grapes the moment they arrive at the winery, opting for a fresh white wine style. Pressed lightly to avoid any bitterness, the juice is transferred to stainless steel barrels and neutral French oak barrels. The wines ferment at low temperatures and can take as long as 6 weeks to finish. The wine is aged on its lees, blended in February and bottled soon thereafter. The wine does not go through malolactic fermentation. 396 cases made.
Chenin Blanc St. Helena
100% Chenin Blanc from St. Helena. The wine was fermented and aged sur lie in used French Oak barrels for a total of 8 months, and the wine does not go through malolactic fermentation. 180 cases made.
Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
This blend is made up of 96 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc from four vineyards - Sleeping Lady (Yountville), Oakville Station (Oakville), Lewelling (St. Helena), and Rafael (Oak Knoll). The blend once captures the warm climate and alluvial soils found in St. Helena, the precision and definition from the old vines at Rafael in Oak Knoll, the well-drained, gravelly clay soils of the Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville, and the beauty and intensity of the valley’s most prestigious appellation: Oakville. The wine is fermented and aged in 100% French oak, 65% of which is new. 234 cases made.
Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Oakville Station’
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermented and aged in 100% French oak, 50% of which is new. 100 cases made.
Cabernet Sauvignon ‘The Grove’
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermented and aged in 100% French oak, 75% of which is new. 100 cases made.