Hamel Family Estate Grenache 2024
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The Land
This Grenache comes off the Moon Mountain District, the hillside AVA on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas, with Nuns Canyon Vineyard at its core and a smaller share from the Hamel Family Ranch. These are volcanic sites built on ancient lava flows and fractured basalt, farmed as small soil-defined parcels the estate calls polygons. Elevation, cool nights, and dry-farmed vines on rocky ground push roots deep and hold acidity, which is why Grenache here leans red-fruited and mineral rather than jammy. It is closer in spirit to the southern Rhône than to warm-climate California.
The Wine
A Grenache-based wine in a restrained, Rhône-leaning style, with small amounts of Mourvèdre and Zinfandel from the estate vineyards. Fermentation runs in stainless steel with roughly half whole clusters left in, and the wine ages in concrete eggs rather than oak, which keeps the fruit vivid and the texture light on its feet. Fresh raspberry and red cherry, dried rose and wild herb, white pepper, and a chalky, volcanic minerality on the finish. There is grip and lift here rather than weight. The 2024 vintage in Sonoma followed a wet winter and a hot summer with a mild, even finish; smaller clusters gave concentrated color and bright acidity, and the year is being called one of the county's best in decades.
The People
The Hamel family bought their first Sonoma property in 2006, and John Hamel has led winemaking since 2017. The estate has been certified organic and biodynamic (CCOF and Demeter) since 2015, dry farms roughly 80% of its acreage, and grazes cattle through the vineyards in winter. Since 2016 the family has worked with Chilean terroir specialist Pedro Parra, known as Dr. Terroir, mapping the volcanic soils meter by meter; Hamel is his only client in California. The cellar work is deliberately restrained: whole-cluster fermentation, concrete aging, minimal handling, all in service of showing the site rather than the winemaking.
Food Pairing
A versatile red for the table. Herb-roasted chicken with olives, grilled lamb merguez, mushroom and farro risotto, or pork loin with a cherry pan sauce. The bright acidity and peppery lift make it a natural with charred and herb-forward cooking, and it takes a light chill well on a warm evening.
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Sonoma County, located west of Napa Valley and stretching to the Pacific Ocean, is a large and diverse wine region in California. With a history of winemaking dating back to the 19th century, Sonoma's varied terroir allows it to grow grapes in multiple places throughout the region. Bordered by the Mayacamas Mountains on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west, the county encompasses a range of climates and soils. The Russian River Valley, known for its cool climate influenced by fog, is acclaimed for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Alexander Valley, further inland and warmer, excels with Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sonoma Coast, a region directly influenced by the Pacific's cool breezes and fog, is gaining recognition for elegant, cool-climate wines, particularly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This diverse landscape provides the fruit for an array of styles.
California - Sonoma County
Grenache is a widely planted grape variety that thrives in its Mediterranean home. In Spain, it's known as Garnacha, where it reaches its peak in the Sierra de Gredos as a pure varietal wine, while also being a key blending component in Rioja. France's Southern Rhône, notably Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is another well-known region, where Grenache is often the base of a blended wine. Grenache also finds a home in Sardinia as Cannonau, and it has spread beyond its Mediterranean origins, most famously to Australia's Barossa Valley. The resulting wines are typically light in color, yet they possess a full body and flavor, displaying mature red fruit notes, herbal spices, and often a hint of orange peel, along with soft tannins and moderate acidity. It is an incredibly versatile grape, showing different expressions based on its terroir and the winemaking style employed.
