2023 Wood Family Vineyards Red Blend “The Runway” is the Authenic One!
Photo from Rhonda Wood
Background
Photo from Rhonda Wood
This new red blend wine called “The Runway” is a hat’s off to Rhonda Wood, the owner, winemaker and former airline pilot. Yes Rhonda Wood, winemaker/owner of Wood Family Vineyards used to fly planes (US Airways) but now can be found in the vineyards tending vines. Rhonda continues to fly about the western states in a private plane. She and husband Michael (with their two sons), have a winery in eastern Livermore. Rhonda started making wine in 1996. Besides sourcing wine on their property, they have 17 specific vineyards which are manicured to their specifications throughout Livermore’s ideal climate.
Another important piece for the background is it is called Red Blend. While this wine has the five main grapes of Bordeaux, the term “Bordeaux” is a geographic indication and a collective trademark. This only allows wine produced from and in the Bordeaux region of France to legally use “Bordeaux” name on the label. Producing or selling wine labeled as “Bordeaux” without authorization can lead to legal action, fines and even criminal charges! So while a wine listed as Bordeaux are desired and have a wonderful historical significance.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This is the second of two new wines being released on August 3rd, 2025 and is already a favorite wine! This is a “Bordeaux style” blend of five red grapes being 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec, 8% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot aged for 20 months in French oak barrels. The alcohol percentage came in at 13.7%. Combining these five grape varietals from Livermore Valley makes a wine that is greater than its components.
As Aristotle in his writing on Metaphysics wrote the “whole is more than just the sum of its components”. The resulting wine is more powerful, valuable and impactful than those varietals alone.
For example, the Cabernet Sauvignon portion provides structure, tannins and black fruit flavors (55%). The Cabernet Franc addition (22%) contributes herbal and lighter fruit notes. These two varietals make up 77% of the “Red Blend” giving it “a punch of tannins and fruit” with a modicum of herbal notes. Next up in the mix is Malbec (10%), which adds color, richness and often a smoky quality along with 8% Merlot which provides roundness, soft fruits and plummy notes. Lastly the Petit Verdot contributes tannins, structure and adds to the deep color. Having all these different, contrasting and complimentary tastes, flavors and aromas provide an elegant and beautiful wine.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Anticipated opening this inaugural wine as a fan of “Bordeaux” wines and history, was convinced this grape collection would provide a delightful wine. On the on eyes a dark almost black coloring with medium-heavy viscosity. As soon as the cork was popped, aromas of blackberry and blueberries awaken the olfactory senses. Decanted this young wine as it was just bottled three weeks ago for 2 hours before tasting at dinner. On the palate, each of the grape varietals stood “tall and proud” contributing their aforementioned qualities to each sip! As the wine engulfed the mouth, one immediately knew this is no ordinary wine as the notes of sharp tannins of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot were counterbalanced to a certain point with the roundness of Merlot. Each contributed to the symphony of total experience with drums, flutes, violins, etc., each doing their part to provide a classical orchestration of flavors. This wine possessed fruit, tannins, and chewiness all for textural delight.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
While I was a bit cautious on the youth of the wine just being bottled on the other new release (The Takeoff), without any hesitation, this Runway wine is now ready and over-delivered last evening!
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This evening’s meal was 24-hour marinated tri tip steak in Chaka sauce, then seared at 1500 degrees to medium rare. Accompanied by baked potato wedges that were cut into eights with olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, sea salt, black pepper and finely grated parmesan cheese. Also, garlic French bread and our guests brought her exquisite field green salad with glazed apple slices browned and sprinkled with brown sugar and feta cheese crumbles.
A great food pairing with the tannins (punch) to fully engulf the steak and yet with a mellow fruit and roundness to enjoy. This young wine is ready for the runway to start its journey and will only age to become more spectacular.
Wood Family Vineyards with this release just added another wine to my annual Best Wines Tasted for calendar 2025!
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Since this wine is dedicated to Rhonda’s initial career as a pilot, I thought it interesting to draw a few comparisons between being a winemaker and key traits of captaining a commercial or private plane:
Attention to details: The Captain knowing all aspects of flight planning, aircraft operation, documenting aircraft performance & maintenance, operational compliance, adhering to government standards & regulations, manage emergencies, coordination with mechanics, ground crew and air traffic control. Rhonda Wood: knowing the vineyards for pruning, shoot thinning, cluster thinning, water strategy & compliance, cover crop management, details to county, AVA and government regulations.
Awareness: The Captain understanding optimal aircraft performance and ability for various aircraft being flown. Rhonda Wood: Knowing when and what to do in the vineyard(s) from Brix checks, ordering supplies for the winery (yeast, So2, etc.), scheduling harvest with vineyard manager, soil nutrition, timing on picking, pressing, sending juice panels to ETS, punch down timing & frequency, selecting yeasts and additives (if necessary), tank temperatures. All of these functions for each and every varietal and winery blend.
Documentation: The Captain recording all aspects of aircraft operations, fuel, temperature, oil pressure, hydraulics, weather, turbulence, aircraft avoidance and airspace incidents, noting functions outside of prescribed government regulations, flight plans, etc. Rhonda Wood: pre-ordering bottles, labels and corks for upcoming harvest and bottling, testing during fermentation, compliance and documentation for ABC laws, tasting room notes, pairing & technical sheets, shipment compliancy, etc.
The above only scratch the surface of the broad characteristics of being a Captain and Winemaker. This may indeed be the reason she wins so many awards for her wines! In addition, self-confidence, humility, clear communication skills, desire to learn and most importantly, the ability to approach the runway for a great journey!
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly