The People
Outpolling Peyton Manning in 1997 to win the Heisman Trophy as a defensive player set the expectations for Charles Woodson’s success pretty high. He delivered over an 18-year NFL career with the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers being named to the Pro Bowl nine times while racking up numerous other awards and a Super Bowl victory at the end of the 2010 season. His 65 career interceptions are the inspiration for the name of his wine label.
Charles began his wine journey in Napa Valley during training camp for the Raiders early in his career. He learned to appreciate wine’s ability to bring people together in a shared experience. He also saw parallels between wine and football in the effort required to produce something extraordinary. He believes that making great wine, like winning a Super Bowl, requires you to get your hands dirty and “grind.” What you pour from the bottle is the result of years of hard work and dedication.
Winemaker Amanda Gorter is one of the top women working in the industry. A native of California’s Central Valley she graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Biology and a Winemaking Certificate. She spent years training under some of the industry’s best winemakers. Amanda’s relentless dedication to the craft and creativity in winemaking transforms hand-selected grapes from Paso and Monterey vineyards into the award-winning line of Intercept Wines. She loves working with Charles in the winery.
The Juice
This unique blend of red varietals dominated by Petite Sirah and Zinfandel with a little Petite Verdot. The wine is made from grapes sourced from Charles and Amanda’s favorite vineyards in Paso Robles. It is aged in French and Eastern European oak barrels for 18 months before bottling. The blend will vary slightly from year to year but is consistently delicious and indicative of the Paso Robles region.
The Dirt
Several vineyards in Paso Robles are the source of the grapes used in the Intercept Red Blend. The Paso Robles growing region, along California’s Central Coast, is famous for producing robust red wines. With a greater day-to-night temperature swing than any other appellation in California, distinct meso-climates, diverse soils and a long growing season, Paso Robles is a unique wine region blessed with optimal growing conditions for producing premium and ultra-premium wines.
The Taste
The 2017 Intercept Red Blend is deep ruby in color with aromas of berry cobbler, savory herbs, and tobacco. The wine is big and juicy with a solid fruit core. The Red Blend is full-bodied with fine-grained tannins on the mid-palate and a long spicy finish. We suggest pairing it with smoked meats or burgers, or just enjoy it by itself.
The Spill
Cortney knows enough about football to carry a five-minute conversation – as long as it is about uniform colors – but she knows good wine and is a sucker for a great backstory. She loves cab but visiting Paso Robles to sample different blends was one of her favorite wine experiences. Finding a wine this good at this price point is like stumbling into a sale at Nordstrom. She says, “Load up and share with friends.”
