Wine Industry Report

Elevated Fruit — the Foundation for new wines from Two Hands Napa

Acclaimed Australian Shiraz specialist Two Hands Wines recently announced the much-anticipated release of the first wines — a pair of 2005 Cabernet Sauvignons — from their new American venture, Two Hands Napa.

“Charlie’s Patch” and “Some Days Are Diamonds” follow in the Two Hands
tradition, emphasizing highest-quality fruit from prime vineyards — in
this case, sites above the Napa Valley floor. The wines are crafted at the
Outpost winery on Howell Mountain by top winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown in
close consultation with Two Hands partners Michael Twelftree and Richard
Mintz.

The wines, produced in very small quantities for the first vintage,
will be marketed in select states by Two Hands importer Terlato Wines
International.

“Our aim is to emulate the success of the Two Hands Wines Australian
business by following the same philosophy — sourcing fruit from great
sites and blending across to make a consistent style,” Twelftree said. “I
have always been drawn to the texture and purity of Napa Valley Cabernet
and I’m excited to be able to put the Two Hands name behind wine that
Richard and I truly believe in. As with any new region, we are on a steep
learning curve and we are very pleased with our first efforts.”

Twelftree and Mintz began visiting Napa in the 1990s. In the course of
learning the lay of the land, they barrel-tasted and walked the vineyards
at some of the region’s most renowned wineries. At each visit, Twelftree
and Mintz absorbed like sponges the idiosyncratic nature of the dirt, the
people and the way they made wine. They have put together an impressive
portfolio of sites and look forward to adding new sites as they become
available.

Early in the planning stages of Two Hands Napa, the duo and Brown
agreed the most interesting Napa wines came from elevated vineyards, and
that they would concentrate their efforts there.

The 2005 “Charlie’s Patch” (suggested retail price $120), named for
Twelftree’s 3-year-old son, is a selection of Two Hands Napa’s top barrels
and is made up of 95% Spring Mountain fruit, with the remainder from
Oakville. The 2005 “Some Days Are Diamonds” ($45) breaks down as 90% Howell
Mountain and 10% Spring Mountain. In the 2006 vintage, parcels of Oakville,
Diamond Mountain and Calistoga fruit were added, and there are plans to
source from both Rutherford and Pritchard Hill in the future.

Though Twelftree and Mintz are intimately involved in the Two Hands
Napa winemaking, making regular stops in Napa on their frequent trips to
the States, they said the participation of Brown was a key to turning the
project idea into reality.

“Obviously, Thomas has the experience and knowledge you look for in a
winemaker,” Mintz said. “But we see great winemaking as artistry. It’s not
about following formulas. And like our winemaker in Australia, Matt Wenk,
Thomas brings his own vision to Two Hands, which is vital to creating wines
that are distinct and memorable.”

Distinct and memorable have been hallmarks for the Barossa-based Two
Hands. In an era in which Australia became known for large-production,
value-priced wines, Two Hands built its reputation by producing uniquely
interesting Shiraz. The winery’s celebrated Garden Series comprises Shiraz
from Barossa Valley (Bella’s), McLaren Vale (Lily’s), Clare Valley
(Samantha’s), Padthaway (Sophie’s), Langhorne Creek (Harry & Edward’s) and
Heathcote (Max’s).

In addition, Two Hands produces the Picture Series, featuring perhaps
its most approachable Australian wines, as well as the new Single Vineyard
Series, exceptional wines from specific vineyards that demonstrate
personality and complexity particular to their origins. Lastly, the
Flagships — a Shiraz, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Grenache — are produced
in extremely small quantities drawn from the very best barrels in excellent
vintages. Their mythological names — Ares, Aphrodite and Aerope — evoke
greatness and immortality.

Terlato Wines International has a global portfolio of 50 brands from a
host of world-class wine producers and presently markets more than one out
of eight bottles of wine over $14 sold in America. Terlato, with more 90+
ratings than any wine company in the world, is the flagship company of the
Terlato Wine Group, the parent company of several independent businesses
specializing in the marketing and production of exceptional wines. Owned
and operated by the Terlato family, the Group also includes the family’s
winery investments and partnerships in some of the world’s most esteemed
wine regions, including: Napa Valley; Sonoma County; Santa Barbara County;
Victoria, Australia; the Rhone Valley in France; Somontano, Spain and
Montalcino, Italy.

The Terlato Wines International portfolio of brands includes: Napa
Valley: Brandlin, Chimney Rock, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Luke Donald
Collection, Markham Vineyards, Rutherford Hill, Tangley Oaks, Terlato
Family Vineyards and Two Hands — Napa Valley; Sonoma County: Alderbrook,
Hanna, Rochioli and Terlato Family Vineyards; Santa Barbara County: Sanford
and Tangley Oaks; California Appellation: Glass Mountain and Seven
Daughters; Oregon: Sokol Blosser and Argyle; Italy: Baglio di Pianetto, Ca’
del Bosco, Ca’ Marcanda (Gaja Toscana), Florio Martinez Marsala, Gaja, Il
Poggione, Kettmeir, MAZZONI (Toscana), Santa Margherita, Tiramisu,
Torresella and Distillatori Nonino (Grappa); France: Champagne Bollinger,
M. Chapoutier, Chateau des Laurets (Rothschild), Domaine Chanson, Josmeyer,
Langlois-Chateau and Mischief and Mayhem; Australia: Domaine Terlato &
Chapoutier, Domaine Tournon and Two Hands; Argentina: Tamari; Canada:
Peller Estates Icewine; Greece: Boutari; New Zealand: Wairau River; South
Africa: Cirrus, Guardian Peak, Engelbrecht-Els, Ernie Els Signature and
Rust En Vrede; Spain: Olvena; Switzerland: Xellent Swiss Vodka.; Japan:
Shimizu-No-Mai Sake.

[SOURCE Terlato Wines International]