In the ÆRENA

A Limited-Edition Wine from Bespoke Collection’s ÆRENA Galleries, Daring Greatly is a wine that honors & celebrates our artist and our team. Teddy Roosevelt and his powerful “Man in the Arena” speech provide the inspiration for the ÆRENA brand name and the remarkable wines that stand apart from the crowd. Crafted to give us the courage to follow our hearts, do the deeds, strive valiantly while spending oneself in a worthy cause… Daring Greatly is a wine that reminds us to be larger than our fears; to take a chance to see and be seen and not wither on the sidelines. Daring Greatly inspires us to not sit in judgement, but to stand with purpose. This wine is a limited production collectible treasure at a price point of $125 a bottle.

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs; who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” -Theodore Roosevelt, Citizenship in a Republic

ON THE Palate:

An Inspirational Proprietary Red wine -
Great balance including red cherry, hard candy-Cinnamon stick, star anise, Fresh mint, dill-Gravelly earth and baking spice. On the palate; Bright entry with lifted acidity, Mid-weightstructure, and focused mid-palate with fine-grained tannins with low astringency leaving you with a clean, energetic finish with lingering spice and red-black fruit!

THE BLACKBIRD VINEYARD

located in the heart of the Oak Knoll Appellation at the intersection of Big Ranch Road and Oak Knoll Avenue, 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.

“Art and wine are inextricably linked as pure reflections of a life well lived. With Daring Greatly, ÆRENA Wines continues to celebrate and explore the provocative connection between the two.” – ÆRENA Founder, Michael Polenske