What happenes when one of Napa Valley’s most acclaimed wineries works with one of the most accomplished wineries in Tuscany? You get DVO. This year marks just the second release of the collaborative effort from Dalla Valle Vineyards and Ornellaia, which blends together traditions from both estates. The DVO 2019 vintage is a red wine based on Cabernet Sauvignon, with a 15% influence of Cabernet Franc.
Characterized by energy and vibrancy, the 2019 vintage highlights the rich terroir of Napa Valley with inspiration from Italy. It exhibits a progression of black and red currents, violet, and cassis. The small influence of Cabernet Franc ties together the blend with baking spices and crushed summer herbs. Velvety and polished tannins give the wine a prolonged and elegant finish. Aged for 22 months in a French Oak Barrel, the 2019 DVO is distinctive and authentic to both wineries.
“The 2018 vintage was a tough act to follow,” says Maya Dalla Valle, second-generation winemaker of Dalla Valle Vineyards who oversees the day-to-day operations of DVO. “The 2019 vintage stands out as another classic yet modern Napa Valley vintage, balancing the expressiveness of Napa through a European lens. This has been and will always be the goal with DVO, to continue our core value of farming first, while honoring our Italian ties.”
Conceptualized by Maya Dalla Valle and founder and proprietor Naoko Dalla Valle, alongside winemaker Axel Heinz and CEO Giovanni Geddes da Filicaja of Ornellaia, DVO was created around the simple idea of taking the essence of two great estates and creating a singular wine.
“With DVO, we are creating wine representative of the legacy and expertise of our estates, while also celebrating what’s to come for Dalla Valle Vineyards and Ornellaia,” says Axel Heinz. “The 2019 vintage is a perfect example of this. Marrying the past with the future to create a vintage to remember.”
For more information, head over DVO’s official website.