2024 Bedell White Franc Blanc Wells Road Vineyard - North Fork, Long Island, New York

Cabernet Franc is a red grape. The White Franc Blanc is a white wine. That is not a contradiction — it is the whole point. Made in the spirit of a blanc de noirs, the White Franc Blanc is crafted by pressing dark-skinned Cabernet Franc grapes with minimal skin contact, capturing all of the grape’s lifted aromatic complexity and none of its color. The result is one of the most distinctive and conversation-starting whites in the collection: pale straw in the glass, deeply aromatic, and unmistakably Cabernet Franc in character — just not in the way anyone expects.

Bedell Cellars was founded in 1980 and is widely regarded as a benchmark winery for the North Fork of Long Island — a pioneering family-owned estate known for its certified sustainable farming practices and its historic all-female cellar crews. The 2024 White Franc Blanc was made by Marin Brennan, who was promoted to Head Winemaker for both Bedell Cellars and Corey Creek in early 2024 after 12 years at the estate. Brennan actually pioneered this exact White Cabernet Franc style for Bedell’s small-batch series — earning a spectacular 93-point review in the process — and has since solidified her standing as one of the North Fork’s most exciting and barrier-breaking winemaking talents. This is her wine, from her vineyard, in her style. And it is extraordinary.

Wine Details & Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes: Pale, clear straw in the glass with vibrant aromas of fresh white peach, crisp lemon drops, and wet stone minerality. Beautiful, fleshy texture on the palate — lifted natural acidity balanced by subtle, complex undertones of eucalyptus, savory herbs, and a whisper of nutmeg. Remarkably clean and dry finish. Sophisticated, food-friendly, and unmistakably North Fork.

• Origin – Wells Road Vineyard, North Fork of Long Island, New York, USA (maritime terroir; certified sustainable farming)
• Producer – Bedell Cellars; pioneering family-owned estate est. 1980; benchmark North Fork winery; historic all-female cellar crews; certified sustainable farming; Marin Brennan (Head Winemaker, promoted 2024 after 12-year tenure; pioneer of this White Cabernet Franc style; 93-point review)
• Varietal – Cabernet Franc (100%; blanc de noirs-style; white wine from dark-skinned red grapes)
• Style – Dry white wine (blanc de noirs-style; aromatic; mineral-driven; fleshy; food-friendly)
• ABV – 12.0%

About White Cabernet Franc

White wines made from red grapes — known as blanc de noirs — are most famously associated with Champagne, where Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are pressed quickly to produce pale, elegant sparkling wines without extracting color from the skins. The same principle applies here: Cabernet Franc, normally a deep red grape, is pressed gently with minimal skin contact to produce a white wine that carries the grape’s aromatic signature — the lifted herbaceousness, the eucalyptus, the savory complexity — without the tannin or color. The result is a wine that surprises and rewards in equal measure, and one that Marin Brennan has elevated into something genuinely special at Wells Road Vineyard.

Food Pairing

The white peach, lemon drops, wet stone minerality, eucalyptus, savory herbs, and nutmeg of this North Fork White Franc Blanc make it one of the most food-sophisticated and genuinely exciting whites in the collection. Pairs beautifully with grilled lobster, littleneck clams, and steamed mussels — the maritime terroir of the North Fork and the wine’s mineral salinity mirror the flavors of Long Island seafood perfectly. The fleshy texture and savory herb complexity make it a wonderful companion for roasted chicken with tarragon, herb-crusted halibut, and anything with bright, herbaceous, Provence-inspired flavors. Also excellent alongside aged goat cheese, fresh ricotta, and a summer vegetable tart. A natural for Club selections, summer entertaining, and serving to the wine enthusiast who thinks they’ve already tried everything. Serve at 46–50°F.

Occasion

This is your go-to North Fork conversation wine — the bottle for Club selections, adventurous gifting, and any dinner where you want to hand someone a glass of white wine, watch them taste it, and then tell them it’s made from Cabernet Franc. A 93-point, pioneer-style blanc de noirs from Long Island’s benchmark estate — at $26, one of the most genuinely surprising and rewarding bottles in the collection.

Wine Producer / Historical Notes

Bedell Cellars was founded in 1980 and has grown into one of the most respected and pioneering wineries on New York’s North Fork of Long Island — a certified sustainable, family-owned estate known for its commitment to regional expression and its historic all-female cellar crews. In early 2024, Marin Brennan was promoted to Head Winemaker for both Bedell Cellars and Corey Creek after 12 years at the estate — a promotion that recognized not only her tenure but her innovation. Brennan pioneered the White Cabernet Franc style for Bedell’s small-batch series, earning a 93-point review and establishing herself as one of the North Fork’s most exciting winemaking talents. The 2024 White Franc Blanc from Wells Road Vineyard is the fullest expression of her vision: a blanc de noirs-style white wine that captures everything extraordinary about Cabernet Franc — without a single drop of red.

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