Cale Becomes One of Very Few Wine Brands in the Country to be Founded by an African-American Woman Winemaker
NAPA VALLEY, CA (February 22, 2021) — The rise in interest for alcohol alternatives in 2020 showed us there is now a seat at the table for the intermittent drinker and a healthier buzz. Founded by former Miss USA, Nana Meriwether, Cale — a wellness company focused on alcohol alternatives — announces today the launch of its first product line: Herbal Wines. Made in Napa Valley by infusing your favorite wine grape varietals with organic herbs, botanicals, and adaptogens, Cale Herbal Wines stand at the intersection of traditional winemaking, the ancient knowledge of Herbalism and the modernistic need for healthy alternatives to our favorite adult beverages.
In the first release of Cale Herbal Wines, Hibiscus Pinot Noir, drinkers are met with a floral reminder of the traditional taste that is Pinot Noir, infused with hibiscus flowers. Made with locally sourced, GMO-free, 100% natural, premium grapes from Northern California, the wine is fermented to dry and thus low in sugar, with no artificial flavors. Standing at only 4.5% ABV, compared to traditional wine that is sometimes even above 14.5% ABV, Cale Hibiscus Pinot Noir is light yet sophisticated in taste, dry, not sweet, and innate with notes of wildflowers and dark cherries. Available for pre-order on DrinkCale.com starting today, Cale Hibiscus Pinot Noir is priced at $25 for 500ml and will start shipping directly to consumers in March 2021.
“As one of very few Black female winemakers in the country, it is my honor to introduce the first iteration of Cale Herbal Wines to market,” said Nana Meriwether, founder of Cale. “As a studying Herbalist, I’m constantly in awe of the power of nature and its ability to heal. By shining a light on the knowledge that has been before, both in Herbalism and traditional winemaking, I am hoping to inspire others while simultaneously offering a new way for everyone to imbibe more healthily.”
Cale is reintroducing the world to Herbal Wine, an ancient technique from the study of Herbalism that Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians practiced. Where the traditional folk method simply fermented herbs, Cale uniquely infuses traditional wine grape varietals like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Merlot with healthful, adaptogenic and functional herbs such as lemon balm, ginseng, rose, reishi, elderberry, stinging nettle, ashwagandha, rhodiola, and more, to make its Herbal Wine.
“Consumers are looking for healthier, more intentional drinking experiences,” Meriwether added. “For intermittent drinkers and those seeking moderation, low ABV alternatives are currently limited to hard kombucha, hard seltzer, and beer. With Cale Herbal Wine, we are positioning our wine as a new archetype – a much needed, low in alcohol, new category of adult drinks, where fruit and flower combine to support a mindful yet active and social lifestyle. Cale is our catharsis.”
About Cale
Cale is a wellness company focused on alcohol alternatives. Its first release is a product line of low-alcoholic herbal wines infused with healthful, functional and adaptogenic herbs, plants, and botanicals. Available for preorder on February 22, Cale’s first offering, Hibiscus Pinot Noir, will ship directly to consumers in March 2021. Visit www.drinkcale.com to learn more.
About The Founder: Nana Meriwether
Cale is founded by Nana Meriwether, former Miss USA and two-time NCAA All American UCLA volleyball player. Meriwether went on to play professionally and trained for the 2008 Olympic Games in Colorado Springs. Meriwether is former Head of Editorial Special Projects and Executive Assistant to the former Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar, America’s first fashion magazine. She currently works at ConsenSys, a software and blockchain accelerator created by the co-founder of Ethereum, the second biggest digital currency behind Bitcoin.
