LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two new wines hit the Lake County wine scene – 2012 Viognier (vee-ohn-yay) and 2010 Bordeaux style Red Wine blend from R Vineyards.

A wine release celebration is planned for Sunday, March 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Lake County Wine Studio in Upper Lake.

Cost for the wine sampler with paired appetizer bites is $10 per person.

“Long overdue, we finally did it,” said winemaker David Rosenthal. “It has been fun to bottle and label the grapes from our vines.”

Longtime grape growers in Middletown, the Rosenthal family started a fine line of wines in 2014 under the brand name R Vineyards.

“It all started back in the early 70s when my parents bought a vineyard in South Lake County,” said Rosenthal. “Next thing I knew I had a winemaking degree from UC Davis and grape-stained fingers.”

During Rosenthal's 30+ years in winemaking, he has collaborated with a number of North Coast winemakers and consultants including Andre Tchelistcheff.

Today, Rosenthal handles the winemaking for Yokayo Wine Co. in Ukiah and manages the vineyards in Middletown along with his family.

The newly released Viognier and Red Wine Bordeaux style blend are from the Rosenthals' vineyard. Both wines are 100 percent Lake County fruit grown in the Jafa soils on the flanks of the Mayacamas Mountains in Middletown.

These wines are in the “must taste” category of Lake County wines.

The 2012 Viognier has distinct and intense floral aromatics with an undercurrent of acidity making it an irresistible food friendly wine.

The 2010 Red Wine is a 51 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 49 percent Cabernet Franc blend with a robust Bordeaux nose, berries, currants and expresso on the palate and a captivating label.

The Rosenthals will release a Cabernet Franc and an Old Vine Zinfandel under the R Vineyards label by 2015.

R Vineyards wines are currently available at Lake County Wine Studio and Blue Wing Salon in Upper Lake, Hardester’s Markets in South Lake County and LaParrilla and Twin Pine Casino in Middletown or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

For more information about R Vineyards wine tasting or Lake County Wine Studio contact Susan at Feiler at 707-275-8030 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .