About Cruse Wine Co.
Michael Cruse took a lab job at Sutter Home intending to prep for UC Davis, discovered he loved cellar work, and never made it to enology school; instead he rose to associate winemaker at Starmont, and in 2008 taught himself sparkling wine from an 1899 French manual he found at the library, launching Ultramarine, arguably America's first cult sparkling wine. In 2013 he founded Cruse Wine Co. in a Petaluma industrial warehouse to make "unabashedly Californian" wines that are fresh, fun, and still serious.
Cruse champions California's forgotten grapes, Valdiguié (once called Napa Gamay), Tannat, Carignan, and St. Laurent, from organic old-vine sites across Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Contra Costa, fermented spontaneously in everything from concrete to old barrique. His flagship Monkey Jacket red blend has become a modern California legend, and every sparkling wine is made entirely in-house, press to disgorgement, on his own Petaluma equipment.
Michael Cruse's Petaluma warehouse winery, champion of California's forgotten grapes and maker of the legendary Monkey Jacket blend.
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Sparkling wine from an 1899 manual,Cruse taught himself méthode traditionnelle from a French winemaking book published in 1899, birthing Ultramarine, America's first cult sparkling wine.
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Champion of forgotten grapes,instead of Cabernet or Pinot, Cruse celebrates Valdiguié, Tannat, Carignan, and St. Laurent from old organic vineyards across the North Coast.
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The Monkey Jacket legend,the flagship red blend has become one of modern California's cult table wines, fruity, fresh, and meant to be chilled and crushed.
"Michael Cruse's Petaluma warehouse winery, champion of California's forgotten grapes and maker of the legendary Monkey Jacket blend."
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Wines change with each vintage
For an accurate list of current-release wines and library bottlings from Cruse Wine Co. please check the winery's official website or contact the tasting room directly. Sonoma Coast producers typically rotate vintages and offerings seasonally.
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Cruse Winemaker Eponymous Appointment
Taste the wines at Cruse Wine Co. in the Sonoma Coast. By appointment only, reservations required.
From $45
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