SPONSORED BY
Meiomi was established to capture the full, bold flavors and opulent textures of grapes grown in three of the most sought-after coastal California winegrowing regions: Sonoma County, Monterey County, and Santa Barbara County. The name, Meiomi, which means “coast” in the language of the Wappo and Yuki tribes, pays tribute to the wine’s origins. Meiomi Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rosé are all designed to combine serious flavor with a laid-back nature, just like the regions from which they’re sourced.
Great taste lives here
Lovingly guided by Director of Winemaking Melissa Stackhouse, grapes grown in the climate and soil of each of the three regions bring unique aromas, flavors, and textures to the blends for Meiomi wines.
Sonoma County
A gentle maritime fog blankets the vineyards, preserving acidity and complexity. The 60-mile-long coastline allows for day/night temperature swings of 40°F which is ideal for flavor development. Ancient geological activity provided a diversity of rocky soils that creates stress in the vines, resulting in smaller berries with intense flavors. These grapes deliver:
- Chardonnay with baked apple, citrus, and a supple texture.
- Pinot Noir with Bing cherry and strawberry, earthiness, and midpalate weight.
- Rosé with strawberry and rose petal.
Monterey County
This is the coolest of the regions, with average night/day temperatures ranging from 55°F to 75°F. This enables a long hang time and extends grape ripening. The soil is rich in sand and light loams with strands of white, chalky calcium deposits. This combination creates:
- Chardonnay with ripe stone fruit and steely minerality.
- Pinot Noir with dark plum, black tea leaves, a fleshy texture, and a savory edge.
- Rosé with bright acidity and minerality.
Santa Barbara County
Moderately warm days and very cool nights provide perfect ripening conditions. Long valleys that run east to west, channel the ocean breezes into the vineyards, cooling the grapes. The soil is highly diverse, including ancient beach, diatomaceous earth, clay, and limestone. It’s a near-perfect place for a wide array of varietals, bringing:
- Chardonnay with grilled pineapple, tropical fruit, and exotic spices.
- Pinot Noir with bright red fruit, baking spices, cranberry, and creamy viscosity.
- Rosé with stone fruit and creamy viscosity.
Winemaking
Melissa Stackhouse, a graduate of the Viticulture and Enology program at University of California, Davis, has spent her entire winemaking career in the vineyards of the California coast, including La Crema, Clos du Bois, J Vineyards & Winery, and Jackson Family Wines. Melissa says with a smile, “It’s my job to balance the distinctive character of the best fruit from Sonoma, Monterey, and Santa Barbara to create smooth, really ripe, rich, and harmonious wines with bold character and deep flavor.”
Recognized Leader
Both experts and consumers applaud Meiomi’s expressive coastal style. The 2015 Chardonnay received 88 points from Wine Enthusiast (May 2017). Meiomi Pinot Noir is the #1 Pinot Noir across all price segments* and the Chardonnay is the #2 luxury Chardonnay*.
Meiomi’s elegant yet approachable style makes it extremely versatile on its own or paired with a wide range of foods. Meiomi’s rich Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Rosé are a perfect match with consumers who want to share their great taste and delicious discoveries with their friends.
* IRI, Total U.S. MULO + C (W/S/B), L52 weeks ending 5/14/17, $ sales
Last Updated: May 4, 2023
