New Kellogg Cuvee

Sept. 18, 2013 - A dozen years ago, a small piece of regional history took root on the Cal Poly Pomona campus. The fruits of that endeavor again are on public display with the recent release of a new vintage of wine from the university’s Horsehill Vineyards - available starting Sept. 23 for $20 a bottle at the Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch.

The 2011 Kellogg Cuvée is a special release in honor of Cal Poly Pomona's 75th anniversary. The wine demonstrates vast complexity. Rich berry notes move into a smoky blend of spice and sweet floral aromas that are beautifully shrouded in a well-knit veil of tannins. All of the different varietals add dimension and style to a wine that reflects 75 years of history and devotion to a community, and serves as a tribute to those who have helped bring Cal Poly Pomona to the forefront of education. The cuvée is a blend of: 61 percent Zinfandel, 20 percent Syrah, 12 percent Touriga Nacional, and 7 percent Mataro. The wine is encased in deep olive-green glass with an elegant gold label silkscreened onto the bottle, a nod to the Bronco colors of green and gold.

Kellogg Cuvée follows the release this past spring of Rossana Sparkling Wine, a Brut Rosé Zinfandel, and several other vintages since the inaugural award-winning rosé from Horsehill Vineyards debuted in 2008. The wine production is a joint operation between The Collins College of Hospitality Management, the College of Agriculture and South Coast Winery in Temecula. It is one of only a few Los Angeles County wines.

The Zinfandel grapes themselves are a living link to the viticultural heritage of the region. The grapes, which grow on campus, have been cultivated from cuttings from the historic De Ambrogio Ranch in Rancho Cucamonga. Before the ranch was razed for development in 2001, third-generation vintner Don Galleano combed the fields and selected 400 grapevine cuttings, some of them nearly 100 years old, and donated them to the university.

Kellogg Cuvée is available starting Sept. 23 for $20 a bottle at theFarm Store at Kellogg Ranch located at 4102 S. University Drive, Pomona. The store is open daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and free parking is available. For more information about the wine visit: http://www.cpp.edu/~horsehill/.