SANTA MARIA, Calif.,
May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Miller
Family Wine Company, a division of the industry-leading Thornhill
Companies, is excited to announce the launch of optik, a new brand
featuring a collection of vineyard designated wines from Bien
Nacido Vineyard, crafted by acclaimed Santa Barbara winemaker Joey Tensley.
Bien Nacido Vineyard, planted in 1973 by brothers Bob and Steve Miller, is widely recognized as
one of California's most iconic
vineyard sites, long revered for producing exceptional wines that
epitomize the distinct characteristics of the Santa Maria Valley
AVA. Looking to honor this heritage while revealing the vineyard's
special qualities through a new and unique lens, the Miller family
teamed up with Tensley to create optik, a brand designed to
showcase a fresh take on Bien Nacido Vineyard.
Throughout his career, esteemed winemaker Tensley has
established a reputation for preserving the best characteristics of
vineyards by minimizing winemaker manipulation and oak treatment –
a signature style that has earned him over 200 90+ ratings from the
wine industry's most esteemed publications, including six wines on
Wine Spectator's prestigious Top 100 lists. By intersecting
Tensley's masterful approach with the elegant strength of Bien
Nacido fruit, optik aims to open eyes to the new possibilities of
this long-established vineyard.
"For nearly 50 years, our family has continued Bien Nacido's
legacy as one of the most well-respected vineyards in California, and we are incredibly proud to be
stewards of this land," says Nicholas
Miller, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "That said,
we are always looking for ways to showcase the diversity and
complexity of Bien Nacido, and introduce it to new consumers in new
ways. By collaborating with Joey – a talented winemaker whom we've
always held in very high regard – we knew we could present a
different slice of Bien Nacido in an unexpected way."
"I've always felt the most important part of my role as the
winemaker is to let the vineyard and the unique qualities of the
fruit shine through in the wine," says Tensley. "In order to
emphasize the special characteristics of Bien Nacido, a special
place that produces exceptional fruit, I make sure to use a gentler
approach in the cellar, trying to let the terroir be the star. And
working with individual blocks across the vineyard allows me to
showcase diversity of site, which translates into wines with a true
sense of identity."
The optik portfolio includes vineyard designated wines sourced
from single blocks on the estate, featuring six small-lot wines
across three varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah – priced
between $35 - $45. Representing the power of new perspectives,
optik's unique and contemporary packaging symbolizes the
empowerment of the winemaker's hand to convey what his eye sees.
"Our label is designed to bring the optik concept to life, visually
representing a new interpretation of Bien Nacido Vineyard through
the lens of an incredibly accomplished outsider looking in," says
Tommy Gaeta, Director of Marketing.
"It offers a deeper level of storytelling perhaps not expected of
the wines typically produced from Bien Nacido, while the price
points make these wines accessible to a broad audience of both
aspiring and established wine enthusiasts."
optik wines will be available at select fine wine retailers and
restaurants in cities across the country and online
at www.optikwines.com.
Miller Family Wine Company
Miller Family Wine Company is a division of the Thornhill Companies
– the industry-leading umbrella brand of one of California's premier winegrowing families, the
Miller Family, who have been farming California's Central Coast for five
generations. The Thornhill Companies includes the prestigious Bien
Nacido Estates and Miller Family Wine Company, which itself
includes the management of acclaimed national branded wine
labels, including Butternut, optik, J. Wilkes, Ballard Lane, Smashberry, Barrel Burner, and
Volunteer wines, control label brands for prominent retailers
across the U.S. and the French
Camp vineyard in Paso
Robles. For more information on Miller Family Wine Company,
please visit www.millerfamilywinecompany.com.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miller-family-wine-company-collaborates-with-joey-tensley-to-launch-optik-wines-301282701.html
SOURCE Miller Family Wine Company