RUTH LEWANDOWSKI Anos

"Anos" from Ruth Lewandowski is a tropically vibrant and unconventional natural wine that showcases winemaker Evan Lewandowski’s playful yet thoughtful approach to winemaking. Crafted from a blend of Italian grape varieties—Montepulciano, Trebbiano, and Friulano—all hailing from the organically farmed Fox Hill Vineyard in Mendocino County, California, this wine gets its name from a late-night epiphany when Lewandowski noticed the shared “-ano” ending of the varietals. Each grape is vinified separately with distinct methods: Montepulciano undergoes whole-cluster fermentation and bladder pressing, Trebbiano is destemmed and macerated throughout fermentation, and Friulano is split between direct press and skin contact. The result is a bright, lean, and refreshing co-ferment with a vivid coral-to-peach hue, bursting with juicy tropical flavors like pineapple, orange, and guava—reminiscent of the classic POG juice blend (Passionfruit, Orange, Guava). Fermented naturally with native yeasts and no temperature control, "Anos" is aged for five months on lees in polyethylene and neutral barriques, with minimal sulfur added only to the Montepulciano post-malolactic fermentation. Unfined and unfiltered, this low-ABV wine is built for speed and drinkability, offering a light, carefree sip that’s as fun as its 1970s racing stripe label suggests—perfect for those seeking smiles per gallon.