Napa Valley, May 2020 – Winemaker Grant Long Jr. is introducing three Toilet Paper Reserve wines. “These are wines of the moment. We wanted to present something whimsical and delicious in these complicated times,” he said, in announcing the new wines. The wines are 2019 Chardonnay ($24.99), 2018 Red Wine Blend ($34.99) and 2018 Grenache ($24.99). The Chardonnay and Red Wine Blend are sourced in the Napa Valley; the Grenache comes from the El Dorado foothills.
Long, the owner and winemaker for Aonair, Reverie and Misc. Wines, among others, conceived the idea for a line of wines to put a smile on people’s faces. “It’s a bit of Americana, a light-hearted acknowledgement of the times we’re living through, something fun and playful,” he explains. The label, designed by the winery’s Creative Director, Clara Meinen, features a stylistic unspooling roll of toilet paper; the cork is custom-branded, with a top-down view of a toilet paper roll. “It’s an iconic image rendered in an anthem of white with a touch of elegance,” Meinen says.
Long and his wife Megan Long are considered one of Napa Valley’s younger first-generation winery owners and entrepreneurs. “Because of my connections for sourcing my other wines in Napa Valley and the El Dorado foothills, I secured superb fruit and was able to pack a lot of value into these wines,” he adds. “We wanted to offer a flavorful and enjoyable wine at an affordable price,” he explained.
“Coming up with the T.P. Reserve wines was a way for my winery team and I to pivot and show our flexibility. We had to adapt and be creative and still be respectful of the climate,” he said. Long is proud that he was able to keep all of his winery employees employed, rather than having to furlough or let anyone go, as many wineries have had to do recently. “If these wines offer some levity in a stressful time, then we will have done our job,” he continued.
Partial proceeds from the sale of the T.P. Reserve wines will be donated to Napa Valley Food Bank which is currently distributing boxed groceries by drive-through daily to families in need. Its parent organization, Community Action of Napa Valley, was founded in 1965 and its programs also include Head Start, Clinic Ole, Legal Aide, The Hispanic Network and others. Community Action’s mission is to provide basic needs – food and shelter – along with other programs to support people become self-sufficient.
The 2018 Red Wine Blend combines fruit from vineyards in the Coombsville, Atlas Peak, Calistoga, and Oak Knoll sub-appellations of Napa Valley. The wine has a dark ruby appearance with rich aromas and flavors of plum and savory herbs and notes of blackberry cordial, black currants, cedar box, and sage. It is an elegant wine with velvety tannins and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Verdot.
The 2019 Chardonnay, sourced from multiple clones of Chardonnay grown in the Napa Valley, has a beautiful golden, sunflower-yellow appearance with aromas of pineapple, lychee, crème brûlée, hazelnut and brioche. The palate offers bright, delicious notes of golden apple and pear, followed by citrus notes of lemon curd and Cara Cara orange that offer the perfect amount of acidity.
The 2018 Grenache, a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, grown in the El Dorado foothills, has a brilliant ruby color with aromas of cranberries, rhubarb and violet. On the palate there are flavors of blueberry, Bing cherries and wild strawberry.
T. P. Reserve wines may be purchased online and shortly at retail outlets around the country.
In addition to the website, you can follow TP Reserve wines online on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
