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Château d’ Estienne’s Small Volume Wines Win Big at SF Chronicle Wine Competition
We all understand the benefits of slowing down to appreciate a moment, but how do we “brake” our rushing about? A visit to Château d’ Estienne is a great way to go. Located in the Sierra foothills, the family-owned and -operated Château d’ Estienne encourages guests to relax, absorb nature, and taste their award-winning wines.
“We greet guests with a pinot gris or a rosé and invite them to enjoy their wines and our signature cheeseboard while immersing themselves in our spectacular views as the outside world passes by," says co-owner Rasha Kahwaji.
Dr. Iman Joseph Kahwaji spent several years looking for an estate winery that combined excellent grape growing potential and, as importantly, a deep connection to nature. “I fell in love with farming when I used to walk the fields with my grandfather in the early morning hours. This remains one of my favorite childhood memories,” says Iman. “By training, I am a pediatric cardiologist, but I always felt the connection to the land and wanted to go back to my roots and reconnect with nature.”
Rasha bonded with Iman over a shared love for the land, together converting Château d’ Estienne into an award-winning estate winery.
Their hard work has produced impressive results. This year’s port, 2014 Barbera Dessert Wine, received a Specialty Sweepstake Award at the 2023 San Francisco Wine Competition, the prestigious event’s highest accolade. The 2017 Souzão received a Gold Medal. The 2017 Tinta Cao and 2017 Touriga-National each took home a Silver Medal. The Touriga-National label design was recognized with a Bronze Medal.
Mike Dunne of Signature Wines was one of many judges to herald the 2014 Barbera Dessert Wine as best in class.
“Nearly a decade after the grapes were picked, this gloriously imaginative take on Barbera is ready to drink. It is all satin, berries, cherries, fine-grained leather, and a cracked nut or two. When to have it? Now, with or without cheese or chocolate or both,” he gushed.
Château d’ Estienne’s esteemed winemaker, Marco Cappelli, says the Somerset, California, terroir and microclimates are ideal for “old-world” varietals that possess a deep European history. After 17 years of making wine in Napa, Marco was drawn, like Rasha and Iman, to the more relaxed lifestyle in El Dorado County.
A family-run estate was always the priority for Iman and Rasha, who were not looking for a large-volume production but for an operation that allows for plenty of time with their children, Seyvene and Estienne, for whom the winery is named.
“Every time I passed this plot of land, I thought to myself, 'I love this place,'“ recalls Iman. “This became a passion-driven project in the perfect spot where I could grow premier Portuguese varietals. Why Portuguese? When you go wine tasting, you want to experience something special that separates the winery. As an estate-grown winery, I want it to remain exclusive and allow us to perfect the wine. Our goal is something unique, like our amazing Barbera port and our upcoming ports that are made in the traditional Portuguese methods."
“We are not looking to sell our wine by volume,” adds Iman. “We want people to have an unforgettable experience drinking our wines, whether they visit us, or enjoy them at home with friends. Our goal is to provide a very inclusive and unhurried experience for our guests.”
Old-world varietals transport us to a romantic place, an image of farmers like Iman's grandfather who worked the soil every day. Iman and Rasha Kahwaji offer visitors a chance to step into this vision, imagine walking the fields and appreciating the magic of the moment. Visit the Château d’ Estienne website to reserve a tasting, join the Crown Club, and learn more about these award-winning wines.
A unique approach is evident throughout Château d’ Estienne. Rasha’s passion for event planning has spawned many memorable events. The Château was also the first winery in the area to offer complimentary artisanal cheeses to accompany the tastings, one of many efforts to pause the “taste-and-go” checklist mindset that has trended in so many wine regions. Like their wines, the quality of experience far outweighs the quantity of winery visits.
The Château d’ Estienne Wine Club program is also exceptional. Members enjoy the freedom to select their wines each shipment. The Crown Club (Estienne is French for “crown”) invites members to complimentary tastings, preferred seating, and exclusive promotional offers. Crown Club members receive four shipments of four personally selected wines annually and a 20% discount on all purchases.
By StoryStudio on MARCH 6, 2023 11:19AM
SPONSORED BY Château d’ Estienne
-Dr. Iman Joseph Kahwaji, founder and co-owner of Château d’ Estienne
This became a passion-driven project in the perfect
spot where I could grow premier Portuguese varietals."
our First wine selection
Blanco
Duncan Creek
Velvet
montepulciano
Owners Dr. Iman and Rasha Kahwaji
Click on each bottle to learn more.