Technical Data

Grape Source: Lucky 8 Vineyard
Appellation: Livermore Valley
Varietal Content: 33% Merlot, 27% Petit Verdot, 23% Touriga Nacional, 17% Souzao
Oak: French, American & Hungarian Oak

Vintage Notes

The 2024 growing season in Livermore Valley brought a warmer, more concentrated vintage than the cool, extended 2023 season. After a steady winter and spring, summer warmth helped build ripeness, depth, and generous fruit character. For a red blend like Sláinte, the season delivered bright red fruit, warm spice, and a smooth, plush texture, while Livermore’s cool evenings helped preserve acidity and aromatic lift. The result is a red blend with warmth, richness, and charm, while still carrying the bright, easygoing spirit that makes Sláinte such a crowd-pleaser.

Vineyard Notes

The 2024 Sláinte Red Blend is sourced from Lucky 8 Vineyard on Tesla Road, where the McGrail family grows several red varietals that are ideal for expressive, layered blends. The vineyard’s warm days encourage ripe fruit and spice, while cool evenings help preserve freshness and balance. Sláinte is meant to feel inviting, generous, and joyful - a wine that brings people to the table. Its name means “cheers” or “to good health,” making it a fitting toast for shared meals, casual gatherings, and good company.

Winemaker Notes

Sláinte is aged in a thoughtful mix of French, American, and Hungarian oak, allowing the fruit to remain fresh and expressive while adding notes of vanilla, spice, sandalwood, and gentle structure. This blend was crafted to be approachable and easy to enjoy, with enough depth to pair beautifully with food and enough polish to sip on its own.

The Wine

The 2024 Sláinte Red Blend feels like a cheerful toast passed around a full table - bright, generous, and easy to love. Aromas of red cherries, raspberries, and black plums rise from the glass, followed by violets and lavender blossoms. Layers of vanilla, white pepper, thyme, bay leaf, tobacco, and sandalwood add savory complexity without overpowering the wine’s bright fruit character.

On the palate, cherries, blackberries, and plums unfold in smooth, generous waves. Good acidity keeps the fruit lifted and vibrant, while satin tannins give the wine a soft, polished feel. The finish is long, easygoing, and driven by red fruit, gentle spice, and a touch of savory warmth. This is a tame, approachable, and incredibly sip-friendly red blend - the kind of wine that feels just as comfortable with pizza night as it does on a dinner table with friends.

Food Pairing

Pizza, spaghetti, charcuterie, or sharp cheddar cheese.