While I was at The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan; a wine sales representative had dropped off three wines in hopes of getting them on a shelf in the store. At this point in time, I think that I should mention that even though I am at the store often, I do not work there.   Though the owner poured me some of the wine along with his staff to get a group concept of the wine, and it was greatly appreciated.  Massican Wines is the only white wine producer in Napa and they produce white wines that are stylistically “Mediterranean,” even though they are made in Napa Valley.  Massican white wines are made from ten grape varieties planted in thirteen vineyards in the North Coast, using sustainable and organic practices.  At the moment they do not have a tasting room or an official “winery.”  Massican was founded by owner and winemaker Dan Petroski in 2009, he sold Massican to Gallo Luxury Wine Group in August 2023.

Massican Wines Sauvignon Blanc California 2023 carries the California AVA because it comes from the following vineyards: Juliana (Pope Valley), Alta Vista (Carneros) Fish (Calistoga), and John Anthony (Carneros); Napa County (84%) and Sonoma County (16%).  Inspired by the wines of Friuli, from northern Italy.  The fruit is harvested at daybreak, with whole-cluster pressing, then the juice is settled overnight, decanted in the morning, and then fermented with both native and cultured yeasts, while being blasted with “really loud music.” The fermentation and aging of the wine was done in twenty percent Stainless Steel barrels, and the balance in Stainless Steel tanks; with a total production of 2,456 cases.  A very soft straw-yellow wine that offered notes of lemongrass, green apples, lemons, and jasmine flowers.  On the palate a bracingly dry wine that offered tones of pineapple, grapefruit, lime zest, good salinity, with a medium finish of wet stones, and chalk.

We then tried the Massican Wines Pinot Grigio California 2023 and their first attempt at this classic northern Italian wine.  The wine is a blend of eighty-eight percent Pinot Grigio and twelve percent Cortese.  The wine carries a California AVA because the Pinot Grigio fruit came from the Thompson Vineyard of Dry Creek and the Lost Slough Vineyard in Lodi; while the Cortese was harvest from Lost Slough Vineyard and hence the wine was eighty-eight percent Sonoma and twelve percent Lodi.  The fruit is harvested at daybreak, with whole-cluster pressing, then the juice is settled overnight, decanted in the morning, and the fermented with both native and cultured yeasts, while being blasted with “really loud music.”  The Pinot Grigio was fermented in large neutral French Oak wood tanks (foudre) and the Cortese was fermented in smaller wood barrels; with a total production of 1,740 cases.   A very pale straw-yellow wine that offered notes of citrus fruit, yellow florals, and almonds.  On the palate tones of lemons, limes, green apples, and a short finish of wet stones (terroir).  Ideal for snacking or a casual dinner.

The final wine of the tasting was Massican Wines “Annia” California 2023 named after the founder and winemaker’s mom and she was born in the Massican hills (Monte Massico) just north of Napoli in the Campania region of Italy; and this is the flagship wine of the winery.  This is the fifteenth vintage.  The wine carries the California AVA because the grapes are in Napa (34%) and Sonoma (66%).  The wine is a blend of forty-three percent Tocai Friulano, thirty-four percent Ribolla Gialla, and twenty-three percent Chardonnay.  Tocai Friulano is harvested from the following vineyards: Nichelini (Chiles Valley, Alta Vista (Carneros), Bowland (Russian River), and Hudson (Carneros).  The Ribolla Gialla is harvested from the Vare/Bengier Vineyard (Oak Knoll), and Bowland Vineyard (Russian River); while the Chardonnay was harvested from the Alta Vista Vineyard (Carneros).  Hence the fruit was farmed in Napa (34%) and Sonoma (66%).  “Annia” was fermented in neutral French Oak (55%) and the balance in Stainless Steel barrels and tanks with each varietal handled independently until they are blended six weeks before bottling; with a production of 3,717 cases.  A pale golden-yellow wine that offered notes of fruit blossoms, lemons, honeysuckle, jasmine, and chamomile.  On the palate a slightly tart and refreshing wine that had tones of lemons, peaches, and tangerines that leads to a medium to long finish of pepper, chalk, and wet stones.  A very interesting wine.