Produced from the Ceja Farms Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, we consider this to be our “magical” wine because after just one sip, you’ll discover why it’s easy for this wine to magically disappear before you know it, making it dangerously delicious!
2020 Inspiration Grenache, Ceja Farms, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
On inspection, the wine has a light red color, reflecting the fact that where these grapes are grown is quite cool which impacts color production in the berries. On the nose, the smell of ripe red fruit jumps out at you with hints of raspberry and strawberry. On the palate, strawberries jump out at you with notes of sweet tobacco. With balanced acidity, this wine is easy to drink and ready without additional aging. 50 cases produced.
Pairing: Roast chicken
Specs
Varietal: 100% Grenache
AVA: Sonoma Valley – Sonoma County
Barrel Program: 100% used FO, barrel aged 15 months
Alcohol: 14.1%
pH: 3.31
TA: 6.3 g/L
RS: 5.0 g/L
2021 Inspiration Grenache, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
With a deeper red color than other vintages, the nose has a pronounced aroma of strawberries that carries through on the palate. Hints of spice are present as a result of a few months in a relatively new American oak barrel. With balanced acidity and light on alcohol, this is the perfect summer wine that’s drinking like a bowl of strawberries on a spring day. 50 cases produced.
Pairing: Pork loin with a grenache wine and cherry reduction
Specs
Varietal: 100% Grenache
AVA: Sonoma Valley – Sonoma County
Barrel Program: 50% used FO + 50% once filled AO, barrel aged for 15 months
Alcohol: 13.1%
pH: 3.24
TA: 6.8 g/L
RS: 4.0 g/L
2022 Inspiration Grenache, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
With the color of rose petals, the nose reflects ripe strawberries with a hint of violets. On the palate, strawberries, leather, and tobacco. As has been the consistent style of my Grenache, these wines are ready to drink now. Just be careful, you’ll find that once opened, this wine will quickly disappear once poured into your glass. 50 cases produced.
Pairing: Duck breast with a cranberry & grenache wine glaze
Specs
Varietal: 100% Grenache
AVA: Sonoma Valley – Sonoma County
Barrel Program:
Alcohol: 13.9%
pH: 3.28
TA: 6.5 g/L
RS: 4.0 g/L
100 used FO, barrel aged for 15 months
What’s Included
6-bottles:
2x - 2020 Inspiration Grenache, Sonoma Valley
2x - 2021 Inspiration Grenache, Ceja Farms, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County
2x - 2022 Inspiration Grenache, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County
Case:
4x - 2020 Inspiration Grenache, Sonoma Valley
4x - 2021 Inspiration Grenache, Ceja Farms, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County
4x - 2022 Inspiration Grenache, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County
“A little Inspiration makes every day a celebration.”
Welcome to Inspiration Vineyards and Winery. Founded in 2002, our mission hasn’t wavered: we strive to produce high quality, food-friendly wines at an affordable price, using the finest quality grapes grown throughout Sonoma County.
Sonoma proud! All of our wines are handcrafted and produced from grapes proudly grown in Sonoma County, California.
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Let me start by saying Welcome Back, Jon! It’s been way too long.
I was a lucky recipient of a lab rat bottle but I am not going to throw the banner up yet. Just got home from a 15 hour shift and am feeling pretty beat.
I will post a full report later this morning, but will give you the TLDR version. Tasted this alongside Jon’s 2012 Grenache and there was quite a contrast in appearance, nose and palate, but we can get into that later.
For now, I will just say that this is a delicious Grenache. Lots of red berry notes, particularly strawberry. Fairly light bodied, easy drinking, both with and without food.
Will dive deeper in my actual rat report but I highly recommend this wine and will be pulling the trigger myself!
EDIT: I see there are multiple vintages. I got the 2021.
Pop and pour with about 20 minutes of air in the glass.
Color is a translucent medium ruby — classic Grenache look where you can see straight through the glass despite the alcohol being just under 14%. Nose opens immediately with strawberry and red cherry, followed by a little baking spice. After a few swirls I get something like strawberry compote that’s been on the stove a bit too long — not unpleasant, but definitely leaning toward the cooked side of the spectrum rather than fresh fruit.
On the palate the entry is actually quite nice. The front palate shows bright strawberry and cherry, with medium acidity and relatively soft tannins. Unfortunately the wine loses a bit of balance as it moves into the finish. A noticeable bitter note develops on the back palate that lingers longer than the fruit, which gives the wine a slightly hollow impression overall. The alcohol warmth also shows up toward the end.
This isn’t my favorite expression of Grenache — I tend to prefer either brighter, fresher styles or the deeper, more structured Rhône versions. Here the combination of cooked fruit and a bitter finish takes away from what is otherwise a pleasant opening on the palate.
We also tasted this side-by-side with the 2019 Ocelli Grenache from Columbia Valley, which made the contrast pretty clear. The Sonoma bottle showed more cooked fruit aromatics and flavors, while the Ocelli came across fresher and more balanced overall. The Ocelli was also less tannic and smoother through the finish. Between the two, both of us clearly preferred the Ocelli.
That said, I can still see some good use cases for this bottle. The moderate structure and red-fruit profile would make this a very flexible Thanksgiving wine: turkey-friendly tannins, fruit that would play nicely with cranberry sauce, and enough spice to echo stuffing herbs. I also suspect this would show better with a light chill (mid-50s°F), where the fruit might feel fresher and the alcohol a little more integrated.
Overall: pleasant front palate with classic strawberry/cherry Grenache character, but for my palate the bitter finish keeps it from being a bottle I’d reach for on its own.
The Wine
2020 Inspiration Grenache, Ceja Farms, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
Specs
2021 Inspiration Grenache, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
2022 Inspiration Grenache, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$420/Case for 4x - 2021 Inspiration Grenache, Sonoma Valley, 4x - 2020 Inspiration Grenache, Ceja Farms, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, and 4x - 2022 Inspiration Grenache, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County at Inspiration Vineyards
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Mar 30 - Wednesday, Apr 1
Inspiration Vineyards Grenache Vertical
6 bottles for $89.99 $15/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $149.99 $12.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2020
2021
2022
Let me start by saying Welcome Back, Jon! It’s been way too long.
I was a lucky recipient of a lab rat bottle but I am not going to throw the banner up yet. Just got home from a 15 hour shift and am feeling pretty beat.
I will post a full report later this morning, but will give you the TLDR version. Tasted this alongside Jon’s 2012 Grenache and there was quite a contrast in appearance, nose and palate, but we can get into that later.
For now, I will just say that this is a delicious Grenache. Lots of red berry notes, particularly strawberry. Fairly light bodied, easy drinking, both with and without food.
Will dive deeper in my actual rat report but I highly recommend this wine and will be pulling the trigger myself!
EDIT: I see there are multiple vintages. I got the 2021.
We got the 2022.
Pop and pour with about 20 minutes of air in the glass.
Color is a translucent medium ruby — classic Grenache look where you can see straight through the glass despite the alcohol being just under 14%. Nose opens immediately with strawberry and red cherry, followed by a little baking spice. After a few swirls I get something like strawberry compote that’s been on the stove a bit too long — not unpleasant, but definitely leaning toward the cooked side of the spectrum rather than fresh fruit.
On the palate the entry is actually quite nice. The front palate shows bright strawberry and cherry, with medium acidity and relatively soft tannins. Unfortunately the wine loses a bit of balance as it moves into the finish. A noticeable bitter note develops on the back palate that lingers longer than the fruit, which gives the wine a slightly hollow impression overall. The alcohol warmth also shows up toward the end.
This isn’t my favorite expression of Grenache — I tend to prefer either brighter, fresher styles or the deeper, more structured Rhône versions. Here the combination of cooked fruit and a bitter finish takes away from what is otherwise a pleasant opening on the palate.
We also tasted this side-by-side with the 2019 Ocelli Grenache from Columbia Valley, which made the contrast pretty clear. The Sonoma bottle showed more cooked fruit aromatics and flavors, while the Ocelli came across fresher and more balanced overall. The Ocelli was also less tannic and smoother through the finish. Between the two, both of us clearly preferred the Ocelli.
That said, I can still see some good use cases for this bottle. The moderate structure and red-fruit profile would make this a very flexible Thanksgiving wine: turkey-friendly tannins, fruit that would play nicely with cranberry sauce, and enough spice to echo stuffing herbs. I also suspect this would show better with a light chill (mid-50s°F), where the fruit might feel fresher and the alcohol a little more integrated.
Overall: pleasant front palate with classic strawberry/cherry Grenache character, but for my palate the bitter finish keeps it from being a bottle I’d reach for on its own.