$33.99 at Crush Wine & Spirits in Bryant, Arkansas (AR)
100% estate grown Riesling from the Dundee Hills AVA
For four months, 92% aged in stainless steel tank, 8% in new French oak. For four months aged sur lie.
Honey, lilies, and peach on the nose. Nectarine, honey, and lychee on the palate.
The winery was founded in 2005 by Madaiah (Doc) Revana, a cardiologist in Houston and originally from Bangalore, India. This Oregon winery is Revana’s second winery operation. His first is his Revana Family Vineyard winery in the St. Helena AVA of Napa Valley which he established in 1997 where he has had much success with his first winemaker, Heidi Barrett, as well as with his current star winemaker, Thomas Rivers Brown.
Revana bought the property in the Dundee Hills of Willamette Valley and named the Alexana winery after his daughter, Alexandra. The property now has 55 acres, planted mainly with Pinot Noir, but also has some Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Gris. The estate’s total production is approximately 12,000 cases per year.
As he did with his winery in Napa Valley, Doc hired a star winemaker in Willamette Valley, Lynn Penner-Ash. Originally from Washington, D.C., Lynn received her winemaking education from University of California Davis. She worked at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Domaine Chandon, and Chateau St. Jean. In 1988 she and her husband Ron moved to Oregon where she became the winemaker at Rex Hill Vineyards, becoming the first woman winemaker hired in Oregon. At Rex Hill, she consistently produced award-winning wines and continued with Rex Hill until 2002. In 1998, she and Ron started Penner-Ash Wine Cellars. With the immediate success of that label, they were able to build their estate winery in 2005. By that time, Lynn was a highly sought-after winemaker for other wineries such as Alexana.
Lynn stayed with Alexana until 2015 and Bryan Weil took over as head winemaker. Bryan received his winemaking degree from Oregon State University in 2008. He worked for Domaine Serene in Willamette Valley part-time before he got his winemaking education. After graduation he accepted a position as assistant winemaker at Hogue Cellars. He joined Alexana in 2012.