MURPHYS, CA — Stevenot Winery has much to celebrate this fall. This year marks the 25th harvest, the first harvest of the new Gabriel Vineyard, and the debut release of Stevenot Winery’s premium library Gabriel Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. In addition to these landmarks, Stevenot was awarded four gold medals for its Tempranillo - two years in a row - and was chosen to participate in this year’s Yosemite Vintners’ Holidays.

Located in the historic gold rush town of Murphys, Stevenot is known for producing world-class wines in the Sierra foothills of Calaveras County, an area that has been a well-established grape growing region since the gold rush. Barden Stevenot, one of the pioneers of the rebirth of grape growing in Calaveras, first planted wine grapes in 1974, a successful visionary with a rich heritage of winemaking and gold mining. The Gabriel wines and new vineyards are named after Barden’s great-great grandfather who migrated from Alsace, France, arriving in 1849 at the goldfields of Calaveras County.

On August 1st, Stevenot’s Gabriel wine was introduced in the tasting rooms to rave reviews. These premium estate-grown wines were given the ultimate in tender loving care and handcrafted precision to produce the finest wines possible. The Chardonnay exhibits an extraordinary flavor combination of pineapple and crème broulee, and the Cabernet exudes layers and layers and layers of robust rich currant, black cherry, and wild berry flavors and aromas.

Both the 1999 and the 2000 vintages of Stevenot Tempranillo garnered four gold medals in recent competitions. Tempranillo is the primary grape of the aristocratic wines of Rioja and the Ribera del Duero, districts of northwestern Spain. Last year, this robust red wine was predicted to be the next “new hot wine in California” by well-known Monterey varietal pioneer, Doug Meador.

Stevenot Winery was selected to participate in this year’s acclaimed Yosemite Vintners’ Holidays during session 8, December 11-12, 2002, and Stevenot Tempranillo will be highlighted during a gala wine dinner event. The 21st Annual Vintners’ Holidays takes place at the world-renowned Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley and includes an elegant five-course gourmet dinner moderated by nationally recognized wine authorities.

Stevenot Winery has three tasting rooms – at the historic Shaw Ranch home, the Alaska House reserved for Wine Club members, and on Murphys Main Street, known for its country charm, unique boutiques, and fine eateries. For more information, contact the winery’ tasting room staff at (209) 728-0638 or visit online at www.stevenotwinery.com.