Brenda Cockerell
Owner, Coquerel Wines
 |
| Brenda and Clay Cockerell |
As high school sweethearts who
have been married since 1977, we have enjoyed hundreds of memorable meals and
great wines with family and friends. We have travelled extensively throughout
the great appellations of Europe and sampled everything from simple, honest
regional bottlings to some of the world’s most celebrated wines. We have
trudged through vineyards and shivered in cold cellars as we barrel tasted with
some of the world’s top vignerons.
Several years ago, while
visiting the Napa Valley for our anniversary, we decided the time was right to
make our own wines. Coquerel was born. (The name Coquerel is an archaic French
derivation of our family name - Cockerell.)
In 2005, we purchased a
vineyard in Calistoga planted to old-vine, dry-farmed Sauvignon Blanc. In 2008
we acquired the adjacent site that was planted to a handful of traditional
varieties rarely found in modern-day Napa. Since then we have revamped,
replanted and upgraded our property to luxury-class winegrowing standards.
Early on, we
hired Christine Barbe, one of the world’s great Sauvignon Blanc specialists, to
handle our winemaking duties. Each vintage, in addition to our two bottlings of
SB, Christine produces small batches of Chardonnay, Verdelho, Petite Sirah,
Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon that capture the essence of the vintage,
variety and site.
Winemaker
Christine Barbe
Winemaker Christine Barbe
is a master of Sauvignon Blanc. Born and raised in Bordeaux, she studied
biochemistry and received her doctorate degree in Enology and Viticulture from
the Bordeaux Institute of Enology. Christine worked with the renowned Denis
Dubourdieu and made Sauvignon Blanc at Chateau Carbonnieux and La Louviere in
Pessac-Leognan. In California, she has worked with Robert Mondavi, Gallo and
Trinchero. Although Christine is from Bordeaux, her “Le Petit” Sauvignon Blanc has
a decidedly Loire Valley character, bearing a striking resemblance to a top
Sancerre.
Coquerel
Family Wine Estates is located just beyond the town of Calistoga at the north
end of the Napa Valley. The heart and soul of our winery is our estate “Walnut
Wash” vineyard, a gorgeous, oak-studded property that sits in the afternoon
shadows of the Mayacamas Mountains. The combination of warm temperatures and
deep, clay/stone soils makes this ideal terroir for Sauvignon Blanc, their flagship
variety, made in a classic Bordeaux style. It also produces exceptional Verdelho,
Tempranillo and Petite Sirah.
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