2023 Violet's Paradise, Monte Rosso Vineyard Grenache, Moon Mountain District AVA, Sonoma County, California

Some vineyards carry centuries of history in their soil. Monte Rosso is one of them. Established in 1886 on the southwestern face of the Mayacamas Mountains — between 690 and 1,300 feet elevation in what is now the Moon Mountain District AVA above Sonoma Valley — Monte Rosso is one of California’s most storied and historically significant vineyard sites. Originally planted to Zinfandel (4th oldest in the world), Semillon (2nd oldest in the world), Muscat, and Burger, it was farmed through Prohibition, sold to Louis M. Martini in 1938, and became home to the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon planted in the United States in 1940. The volcanic red hill loam soils — weathered basalt, mineral-dense, and elevation-cooled — have been producing wines of extraordinary complexity and structure for nearly 140 years.

Into this vineyard walks Brenae Royal.

Violet’s Paradise Wines is the prestige debut from Brenae Royal — Black woman winemaker, farmer, and founder of one of the most intentional and community-driven wine companies in California. A people-first wine company by design, Violet’s Paradise uses land access, innovative beverage production, and mentorship to redefine the wine industry from the ground up — through farming, winemaking, retail, and hospitality. The winery creates paid work opportunities from production to point of sale, and reinvests in the next generation through the Violet’s Paradise Agriculture Scholarship. This is not just winemaking. This is institution-building, by a Black woman who knows exactly what she is building and why.

The 2023 Monte Rosso Grenache is the expression of everything that makes this vineyard and this winemaker extraordinary: 100% Grenache, grown at high altitude on volcanic red hill loam, in one of the most ideal Grenache vintages Sonoma has seen in years — a cool, extended spring and slow, steady summer that allowed fruit to hang longer, develop full phenolic maturity, and preserve the freshness, aromatics, and structure that Grenache at its finest demands. The result is a wine of genuine complexity, balance, and beauty — scored 90 points by Wine Spectator’s Aaron Romano, and reviewed by Wine Enthusiast as delivering “a complex nose of fresh cranberry and raspberry, savory spice, and wildflowers, while the palate brings deft balance of rich tannin and energetic acid, with flavors of ripe cherry, spiced plum, licorice, and violets through a long and sultry finish.”

Critical Acclaim

• 90 Points — Aaron Romano, Wine Spectator Magazine
• “A complex nose of fresh cranberry and raspberry, savory spice, and wildflowers… deft balance of rich tannin and energetic acid, with flavors of ripe cherry, spiced plum, licorice, and violets through a long and sultry finish.” — Tom R. Capo, Wine Enthusiast

Wine Details & Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes: Complex nose of fresh cranberry, raspberry, savory spice, and wildflowers. The palate delivers deft balance of rich tannin and energetic acidity, with flavors of ripe cherry, spiced plum, licorice, and violets. The finish is long, sultry, and deeply memorable.

• Origin – Monte Rosso Vineyard, Moon Mountain District AVA, Sonoma County, California (690–1,300 ft elevation; volcanic red hill loam soils; established 1886)
• Producer – Violet’s Paradise Wines; Black woman-owned; founded by Brenae Royal — Black woman winemaker, farmer, and community builder; people-first mission; Violet’s Paradise Agriculture Scholarship; certified organic
• Varietal – Grenache (100%)
• Winemaking – Hand-sorted, stemless fermentation; barrel fermentation in neutral and French oak
• Style – Dry red wine (high-altitude; single-vineyard; certified organic; prestige)
• ABV – 15.2%

2023 Vintage Notes

The 2023 growing season in Sonoma was defined by a cool, extended spring and a slow, steady progression into summer. Unlike the heat spikes of previous years, the moderate temperatures and even pacing allowed fruit to hang longer on the vine, developing full phenolic maturity without sacrificing freshness — an ideal scenario for Grenache, which thrives in warmth but can easily lose structure in excessive heat. At Monte Rosso, the volcanic red hill loam soils retained just enough moisture through the dry summer months, supporting balanced vine stress. This resulted in Grenache clusters with vibrant aromatics, exceptional acidity, and a pure expression of red and blue fruit. The longer ripening window encouraged the development of subtle spice and floral tones, while preserving the variety’s natural lift and airy texture.

Food Pairing

The cranberry, ripe cherry, spiced plum, licorice, violets, and savory spice of this high-altitude Moon Mountain District Grenache make it a sublime companion for refined, elegantly prepared dishes that honor the wine’s complexity. Pairs beautifully with herb-crusted rack of lamb, duck confit, and slow-roasted pork shoulder. The energetic acidity and structured tannins make it a wonderful match for mushroom-forward risotto, truffle pasta, and roasted game birds. Also exceptional alongside aged sheep’s milk cheeses, fig and walnut combinations, and any charcuterie board built around complexity and nuance. A natural for celebratory occasions, event gifting, meaningful milestones, and any table where the wine deserves to be the centerpiece of the conversation. Decant 45–60 minutes. Serve at 64–68°F.

Occasion

This is your go-to prestige California Grenache — the bottle for milestone celebrations, corporate and event gifting, and sharing with the wine collector who appreciates single-vineyard, certified organic, high-altitude winemaking from one of California’s most historic and celebrated vineyard sites — in the hands of one of the most visionary and community-driven Black women winemakers working in American wine today.

About Violet’s Paradise Wines & Monte Rosso Vineyard

Violet’s Paradise Wines represents the prestige debut from Brenae Royal — a people-first wine company whose work serves broad communities through land access, innovative beverage production, and intentional mentorship to redefine the wine industry through farming, winemaking, retail, and hospitality. Violet’s Paradise creates paid work opportunities from production to point of sale and reinvests in people by funding the Violet’s Paradise Agriculture Scholarship to inspire others to live their own dreams.

Monte Rosso Vineyard was established in 1886 by Emmanuel Goldstein and originally planted to Zinfandel (4th oldest in the world), Semillon (2nd oldest in the world), Muscat, and Burger. Farmed through Prohibition and sold to Louis M. Martini in 1938, Monte Rosso became home to the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon planted in the United States in 1940. The vineyard sits on the southwestern side of the Mayacamas Mountains between 690 and 1,300 feet elevation in the Moon Mountain District AVA above Sonoma Valley, with a primary soil profile of volcanic red hill loam — one of the most distinctive and age-worthy terroirs in all of California.

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