# Feints Cuvée Zero Red Blend (2024)

- **Producer:** Ruth Lewandowski
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Arneis, Barbera, Dolcetto, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €30
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** strawberry, raspberry, cherry, rose, violet, herbaceous

## About this wine

Ruth Lewandowski Wines was founded in 2012 by Evan Lewandowski, who named the estate after the biblical Book of Ruth to reflect themes of renewal and nature. Training in Alsace instilled in him a commitment to minimal-intervention winemaking. Sourced from the organic Fox Hill Vineyard on Mendocino County's Talmage Bench, Feints is modeled after traditional Italian red and white field blends, co-fermenting aromatic white Arneis with structure-bearing Piedmontese red varieties grown on ancient alluvial gravel soils.

## Interesting facts

- Inspired by historic Italian field blends co-fermenting white Arneis with Piedmontese reds.
- The winery name references the biblical Book of Ruth, symbolizing restoration and working with nature.
- Grown at Fox Hill Vineyard on 650-foot uplifted riverbed sediments rich in quartz and sandstone.

## Food pairing

The high acidity, energetic carbonic lift, and gentle tannins in this light-bodied red make it remarkably versatile. It cuts through fat in cured meats, complements the savory earthiness of mushrooms, and pairs wonderfully with lightly spiced or grilled dishes served with a chill.

## Wine making process

The grapes were harvested simultaneously off the same vineyard site and underwent full carbonic maceration in polyethylene tanks for roughly ten days. Tanks were subsequently foot-trodden, followed by a brief two-day skin maceration prior to bladder pressing. Fermentation proceeded naturally with indigenous yeasts through complete malolactic conversion. The wine aged for five months on its lees in a combination of stainless steel, Flextank, and neutral oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.