The 2014 vintage made by axios won the best wine by bottle to be served at the restaurants and hotels in United States by panel of wine directors and sommeliers of USA at the 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards.

The Sommelier Choice Awards provides on-premise buyers and sommeliers a valuable benchmark for understanding which wines would make a compelling addition to a wine list. The wines are judged in five categories: food parability, typicity, quality, value, and packaging. The judges ask: would I stock this wine, and is it good enough for customers to order a second glass? Wines are graded out of 100, with only those above 95 points winning the coveted Double Gold award. There are also category awards, with best in show given to white, red, sparkling, rose, and an overall winner every year, by the bottle and by the glass – reflecting how wine is presented in restaurants.

The Kalaris brand, named after proprietor Gus Kalaris, evolved from Gus' love of the great wines of Burgundy and his passion for producing California wines reflective of the uniqueness and beauty of their terroir.  It is the newest addition to our family of wines mostly coming from our Calistoga Kalaris Family Vineyard.  Staying true to the vision of the brand, these wines are hand-crafted, small production and of the highest quality.  They are a true reflection of Gus’ vision to produce first class wines in a classic old world style but allowing the wine’s Napa Valley origin to shine.

2014 Kalaris, Pinot Noir from the United States - Wine Of The Year. (View all winning wines)

The 2014 Pino Noir is a subtle, gracious pinot noir with appetite-including scents of rose petal and berry. Underneath its savory layers, the tannins show through with a texture that's as cool and fine as damp sandstone, coastal acidity giving it a bright persistence.

Harvest Report:

2014 was an intriguing vintage in recent memory. Fod set in at the end of season creating lower yields, in some cases dramatically. Harvest was several weeks ahead of schedule, resulting in dense and structured wines with depth and richness. Across the board, the quality of 2014 Pinots is tremendous.

Gus Kalaris founded Axios, a luxury Napa Valley wine brand in 1999 to much acclaim.  The success of Axios has spawned the Worthy, Truth, Kalaris and Telios brands. In 2013 Kalaris purchased a home surrounded by over 10 acres of vineyards in Calistoga.  His goal is to produce a world class Pomerol-style red wines from the estate under the Kalaris label.

Gus Kalaris, Founder and owner, Constantine Wines

Gus Kalaris is the founder and owner of Constantine Wines, a wine distribution and import company founded in 1986 that has enjoyed a great reputation for premium offerings.  Under his leadership, Constantine Wines has enjoyed decades of uninterrupted growth.  Kalaris founded Axios, a luxury Napa Valley wine brand in 1999 to much acclaim.  The success of Axios has spawned the Worthy, Truth, Kalaris and Telios brands.  Gus, a Greek American, born in Washington, DC is fluent in the Greek language and dedicated to his heritage.  Kalaris has received numerous awards and national recognition for his charitable endeavors and serves on many charitable and philanthropic boards including Cystic Fibrosis and the Cal Ripken Sr Foundation.
In 2013, Kalaris purchased a home surrounded by over 10 acres of vineyards in Calistoga.  His goal is to produce a world class Pomerol-style red blend from the estate under the Kalaris label.

Robert Egelhoff ~ Winemaker

Robert Egelhoff is one of Napa Valley's most sought-after winemakers, with over thirty years of viticultural and winemaking experience.  Egelhoff launched his career as vineyard manager for Beckstoffer Vineyards, where he worked for three years.  From there he joined Bill Harlan's Merryvale Vineyards, honing his winemaking skills under the tutelage of Bob Levy and consultant Michel Rolland.   Further credentials include positions with prestigious wineries including Bella Vista, Amizetta and Robert Craig.  In addition he has coordinated production for over three dozen nationally recognized brands.  In one of his career highlights, Egelhoff made the Wine Spectator 1997 wine of the year, the Cabernet Sauvignon Elevation 1147, for David Arthur Vineyards, which catapulted him to cult winemaker status.  An essential philosophy behind Egelhoff's approach to winemaking is a hands-on involvement in directing vineyard and winemaking practices while closely monitoring the results.  For Axios, Egelhoff selects grapes from premium vineyards and oversees all aspects of the winemaking process, a close involvement that is founded on his exacting demands for quality.

Mr. Egelhoff graduated from the University of California, Davis, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He lives in St. Helena with his wife and two children. 

Manny Gomes ~ Vineyard and Estate Manager

Manny is a valuable member to our Axios family. The Vineyard Estate Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of our farming operations. Manny helps advise the Production Management Team on the short-term and long-term fruit supply.

Tips from the winery for food pairing: Perfect Pinot Noir pairings include pork and poultry, beef and bacon, cheese and chocolate, fish, lamb, mushrooms, fresh herbs, and wild game. Pinot Noir plays well with creamy sauces and spicy seasonings as well.

Sommeliers, Wine Directors and On-Trade buyers looking to add the 2014 Kalaris Pino Noir are encouraged to call the winery directly before the stocks run out.

Contact for trade:

info@axioswine.com
Tatiana Loeb
4103099463