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This Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the best estate-owned vineyards in Lake and Sonoma counties. Most of the grapes come from Lake County, in the dramatic mountainous region with volcanic rocks, giving the wine structure and concentration. The rest comes from Sonoma County and a small amount from Santa Barbara County, giving the wine a powerful flavor and excellent quality. Sebastiani Vineyards dates back to 1825, when Franciscan missionaries, with the assistance of local Native Americans, planted the first vineyards near Solano, San Francisco, which became some of the oldest vineyards in Northern California. Founder Samuel Sebastiani immigrated to the United States in 1895 and had experience growing wine in Tuscany, Italy, before acquiring the vineyards in 1904. Samuel made enough money hauling stone from quarries in the Sonoma hills and mountains to build the foundations for the San Francisco sidewalks that remain to this day. He started making quality Sonoma wines using the skillful and advanced techniques he learned before moving to the United States. Soon after Samuel's death in 1944, his son Augusto Sebastiani and his wife Silvia took over the business and increased the winery's production by 100 times, leading the winery to success with premium varietal wines, including the popular magnums, with their unique ideas and price tags. They also introduced "Nouveau" Gamay and Beaujolais to the United States, and made a blush wine known as Pinot Noir Blanc, called "Eye of the Swan". The color of this wine reminded the eye of the Australian Black Swan, pink. As a result of all his efforts and endeavors, August quickly gained a reputation as one of the most skilled and innovative winemakers in the United States. Marie-Ann, the third generation of this famous winemaking family, continues to play a leadership role as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sebastiani Cuneo. Today, Mary Ann is focused on a long-awaited two-year project to restore and improve the original 1903 winery. All of the traditional grape varieties thrive in Sonoma, but each one seems to have its own ideal spot in the county, with the right climate, soil, elevation, sunshine, and vineyard resources. After nearly 100 years of growing grapes and making wine in Sonoma County, she feels deeply that these are the best grapes to show off.