Mandolin Vintners

Mandolin, a small winery with large ambitions, is generating considerable attention for its stylish wines. Developed by Brent Shortridge and Philip Zorn, Mandolin has the luxury of drawing on top vineyard sources in some of California’s best growing regions, yielding balanced wines with bright fruit and a long finish. In fact, it is this characteristic that led to the name of the winery — the mandolin instrument, heralded for its brilliant tone and great carrying power, was the inspiration.

The Mandolin winemaking style leans toward emphasizing balance and expressive fruit flavors, rather than sweetness or excessive oak, and the result is a very accessible, flavorful wine that appeals to experienced wine drinkers and neophytes alike. The broad appeal of Mandolin wines is credited to their full middle palate, which maximizes the fruit character of the wines.

Monterey County -

Mandolin Pinot Noir features bright cherry and raspberry fruit with hints of spice, leather and cedar. This generous wine will complement a wide array of foods, including grilled fish, lamb and aged cheeses.

Central Coast -

Mandolin Syrah is a rich, full-bodied wine with lush blueberry, raspberry and black currant fruit. Serve with roasted meats and well-seasoned dishes.

This well-rounded Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the California's coastal regions, where coastal breezes moderate the warmth of summer and early fall.

Mandolin Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby in color with focused currant, cherry, blackberry and cracked pepper spice. The fruit carries through to the wine's lingering finish, complemented by a hint of vanilla from the oak. Serve with red meats, game and cold water salmon.

Central Coast -

Mandolin Merlot is noted for its black cherry, currant and blackberry fruit with vinilla and rich oak undertones, leading to a delightful, lingering finish. Serve with red meats, pork and veal.

The Zinfandel for this wine is sourced from a 55-year-old Lodi vineyard that is dry-farmed and head-pruned. The Carignane is also grown from old vines (40 years old) on a neighboring plot; this varietal contributes bright fruit and richness to the overall blend. Old vines were chosen as the source for this wine because they provide intensity of flavor and great character. After crushing, the wine was aged in 1-2 year-old American oak barrels for 14 months.

Mandolin Old Vines Zinfandel features abundant cherry, blackberry and plum fruit that is offset by notes of black pepper and spice. This wine will complement a wide variety of foods, including grilled meats, hearty pastas, and aged cheeses.

Monterey - Rich is the word that best both describes Chardonnay and explains its popularity. Its aroma is distinct, yet delicate, difficult to characterize, easier to recognize. It often smells like apples, lemons, peaches or tropical fruits. Its delicacy is such that even a small percentage of another varietal blended into a Chardonnay will often completely dominate its aroma and flavor.

Monterey - Because of both its cellar longevity and its ability to maintain varietal identity while reflecting the individuality of its terroir, Riesling may be the best of all the white wine grapes.

Riesling has a powerful and distinctive floral and apple-like aroma that frequently mixes in mineral elements from its vineyard source and is often described as "racy." Its high natural level of Tartaric acid enables it to balance even high levels of residual sugar.