Have Hope
Hope Family offers a wine for every budget.
By Jan Walsh Photo by Jason Wallis
Third-generation California farmer and first generation winemaker Austin Hope oversees Hope Family Wines. Hope, who began working in his family’s vineyards as a boy, combines experimentation with old and new winemaking philosophies.
The family’s Treana Winery was established in 1996. Treana White 2007 ($25) is a white Rhone blend of Marsanne and Viognier with notes of jasmine, pineapple, honey and pear. Treana Red 2006 ($50) is a proprietary blend of 70 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 percent Syrah. This ruby wine offers aromas and flavors of dark cherry and spice.
The Hope family helped build Liberty School’s reputation for fruit-driven, barrel-aged wines of true varietal at a good value, by first sourcing the fruit for Caymus Vineyards’Chuck Wagner before taking over the label. Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 ($12) is well-structured with notes of aromas of ripe red fruit, followed by dark cherry flavors. Liberty School Syrah 2007 ($12) has pleasant minerality and notes of plum, cola and exotic spice. Liberty School Chardonnay 2007 ($12) offers bright aromas and flavors of apple, pineapple, pear, honey and a hint of toasted oak. Hope takes technology beyond the bottle with Wine DJ, the Liberty School iPhone application, which builds playlists of “music to match your spirits” based on mood, setting and the Liberty School wine being consumed.
Grapes from various regions synthesize in the cellar to make Candor varietal wines. Candor Merlot Lot One ($18) has notes of black cherry, plum, spice and smoke. Candor Zinfandel Lot One ($18) smells and tastes of blackberry jam, black pepper and clove.
Austin Hope Winery produces high-end, handcrafted wines inspired by France’s northern Rhone Valley.The flagship wine is the Austin Hope Syrah.A 2005 bottle ($42) presents flavors of blueberry, cassis, smoked meat and spice.
