Dear friends & Collectors…

The Offer:

I’m excited to share that the 2024 vintage of the ÆRENA Wines are now available for acquisition online. The wines are offered first come, first served, and please know that production was extremely limited. We have been making world class wines from Napa, Sonoma & Mendoza Argentina under various labels since 2003. I am particularly excited about the 2024 vintage. These are ripe, balanced wines, wonderfully rich and elegant. I can’t wait to share them with you, if only there were more!

The Ask:

Today’s offering includes Daring Greatly & Unreliable Narrator… two collectible limited production right bank inspired red wines sourced from the highly regarded Blackbird Vineyard in Napa Valley. Many of you may be familiar with the ÆRENA Wines prior vintages, and for the very first time the wines will now be available directly through ÆRENA Galleries to better support our artist and team members. As you know the art world in general and galleries specifically have faced serious headwinds the last 5 years. Many galleries large & small have been forced to close their doors. The ÆRENA team continues to fight the good fight to provide a platform to represent our artist and we hope that you will find the ÆRENA Wines a fun & thoughtful way to help support our team & our artists. We are not looking for a donation… these wines stand tall on their own. The labels each have a great story that will spark interesting conversation around the table, they will pair beautifully with food, and we think that they look great as well…! The Blackbird Vineyard has been producing top rated wines for 25+ years and as you may know I have lived on The Blackbird Vineyard since acquiring it in 2003. I’m excited to have the opportunity to bring my two passions together for the first time with the 2026 release.

The Wines:

ÆRENA’S ANTHOLOGY*-Standing together as ÆRENA’s collector wines for the 2024 vintage, Daring Greatly & Unreliable Narrator, are a study in contrasts. While Unreliable Narrator captures a moment in time…’the zeitgeist’…for the 2026 release, the essence of today’s socio-political climate of uncertainty. The endless distractions and conversations that take the oxygen out of the room… Daring Greatly is meant to be timeless and lives in honor of our team and especially our artists who have chosen to make a career in the arts and quite literally are working In The Arena… These are the values and principles that we all should aspire to live by no matter what our chosen path. The way life should be… the conversations that we should be having…

* anthology: noun [ C ]A collection of artistic works that have a similar form or subject, often those considered to be the best but tell their own unique story…

THE BLACKBIRD VINEYARD:

located in the heart of the Oak Knoll Appellation at the intersection of Big Ranch & Oak Knoll marked by the ever-present Ball & Jacks sculpture. The 100-year-old farmhouse and adjoining 100-year-old barn are home to much of the antique & vintage inventory as well as an always changing showcase of selected artist works from the galleries.

Ideal for Cabernet Franc & Merlot:

Clay Over Alluvial Gravel: The estate soil profile is highly unique, featuring a heavy clay topsoil layered over a well-drained alluvial gravel base. This exact composition is widely praised by viticulturists. The nutrient-rich clay brings exceptional power, structure, and depth to Merlot & CF grapes, while the underlying sand and gravel allow for efficient water drainage, forcing the vines to ripen to perfection.

Maritime Moderation: Because Oak Knoll is located closer to San Pablo Bay, it experiences a significantly cooler microclimate than northern AVAs like Calistoga or St. Helena.

Acidity and Finesse: Marine breezes and morning fog rolling off the bay cause cool nights that preserve natural acidity in the fruit. This slows the ripening process, ensuring the grapes develop complex flavors, elegant tannins, and optimal balance without becoming overly jammed or alcoholic..

The 2024 Vintage:

Described as dynamic and rich in flavor, the 2024 vintage captures the unique character of Napa Valley, blending boldness with elegance. It was a textbook year for winemaking, yet it was also unusual for the numerous days of heat during the growing season. Key to the success of the vintage was heavy winter rain that set the vines up for success. The winter rains saturated the soil and laid a foundation for healthy vegetative growth. The resulting natural shade canopy protected the crop through the expansive summertime heat from June through harvest. * Napa Valley Vinters

The ÆRENA Philosophy:

There is a BIG conversation taking place around the world regarding technology and specifically AI… One of the main themes is the Paradox of Plenty… it’s the theory that one of the big benefits we will get from AI and automation is that it will bring costs WAY DOWN on most things in life and as the costs come down people will need less money to pay for day-to-day things, which obviously would be a great thing for humanity. One of the butterfly effects of that is that unprecedented abundance will create unprecedented demand for things that cannot be made abundant… Things like art, wine, antiques & objet…. Things that are unique, have a history, a strong pedigree that tells a story… things that cannot or should not be mass produced…. this is the Bespoke world that ÆRENA lives in…

At ÆRENA Wines, we see wine as an ephemeral work of art; once it is consumed, it is gone. From the farmers, winemakers and artists who inspire and/or create the labels, ÆRENA Wines celebrates everyday heroes who are mastering their craft. Featuring distinctive bottlings from both well-known and emerging appellations, we create authentic wines that embody a sense of place and a decidedly drinkable point of view. Our winemaking philosophy is simple, “let the wines speak for themselves”.

Thank you for your attention to this matter… AND your interest & support in ÆRENA over the last 20+ years. We really do appreciate it. Please click here to confirm your allocation and learn more about both Daring Greatly & Unreliable Narrator. We are also happy to answer any question you may have, please send us an email at info@aerenagalleries.com, give us a call at 707.603.8787 or visit us online at aerenawines.com.