2018 Gros Ventre High Country Red El Dorado 750 ml

Having been a sommelier in some of Jackson Hole’s hottest spots, Chris Pittenger knows how to make a wine worthy of the best wine lists in the country. Which is why we’re so excited to offer you his 2018 Gros Ventre El Dorado High Country Red for up to 1/3 less than you would see it listed on NoMad Los Angeles’ wine list. 

With fruit sourced from five vineyard sites—all of which are known for cooler temperatures which allow the grapes to retain their refreshing acidity—the 2018 strikes the perfect balance between juicy red berries and lifted notes of purple flowers thanks to its unique blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Gamay.

The ideal wine for everyone—sure to please the Pinot Noir drinkers as well those looking for something a touch juicier—and every occasion. Whether you’re in the kitchen cooking an elaborate meal or in your backyard during a socially distanced happy hour this wine never disappoints. 

And at this price point you can drink like you’re a guest at a Michelin-starred restaurant any night of the week without thinking twice. A boutique winery in the truest sense, this wine will make you feel like you’ve discovered one of Northern California’s best-kept secrets.

After working in restaurants for years, Chris was ready for a change. Intrigued by winemaking since his days at Cal Poly SLO (the UC Davis of the Central Coast), he finally decided to pursue his dream in 2003. Over the next four years, Chris worked domestically and abroad in wineries such as Robert Biale, Torbreck, Williams-Selyem and Marcassin, before accepting a full-time winemaker position at Skinner Vineyards in 2007. 

Then in 2009, Chris and his wife Sarah took a leap of faith and founded Gros Ventre. The label was grounded in the idea that they would produce world-class Pinot Noir inspired by the Burgundies that Chris fell in love with during his restaurant days; while embracing the abundance of sunshine that California has to offer. 

While juggling both projects, his ambition and wines didn’t fly under the radar for long. In 2013 the San Francisco Chronicle identified Chris as a “Winemaker to Watch.” An honor that was quickly followed with Wine & Spirits naming Gros Ventre one of fourteen Wineries to Watch in 2018. 

Then just last fall, this very wine—the 2018 Gros Ventre El Dorado High Country Red—was featured in Wine Spectator when NoMad Los Angeles’ wine Director Ryan Bailey touted it as an “incredibly food-friendly wine.” Chris couldn’t agree more. In a recent conversation we had with him he explained, “What I enjoy most about this wine is its versatility. It can pair with a wide range of dishes or be chilled slightly as a summer red.” 

It was his admiration for Passetoutgrain, Burgundy’s seldom-imported blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, and desire to make a wine with fruit from El Dorado that led Chris to diverge from his Pinot Noir-only stance—and it certainly has paid off. With its flavors of pomegranate, wild raspberry, and fresh herbs, his 2018 is the wine you need to be drinking all summer long. 

A clear favorite of both sommeliers and critics, it’s amazing that Gros Ventre has maintained its status as a hidden gem on the wine lists of Michelin-starred restaurants and corner bistros nationwide for this long. But with an annual production of only 2,000 cases, these rare wines are almost never seen on the open market and never at this steal of a price point. 

This is your chance to bring a piece of these restaurants home with you. Take home the 2018 Gros Ventre El Dorado High Country Red and drink like it’s a night out—without worrying about a surprise on your bill when the bottle is empty.