An invitation to meet with Cheryl Indelicato and taste her new wines came with the opportunity to suggest a restaurant. I recommended Eolo, an Italian restaurant inspired by the owner’s summers spent at her grandparents’ home in Sicily, not knowing that Cheryl’s own grandparents had emigrated to the U.S. from this same island. Some may call it kismet. In the end, I just called it yummy.

Cheryl’s new line of wines, which is part of the Delicato Family Vineyards brand, is called HandCraft. As proprietor of the brand, Cheryl has been collaborating with winemaker Alicia Ysais since 2010 to literally handcraft wines that bring together a California pedigree, her Italian heritage and a fruit-forward style. Thus, each wine marries typical grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with Italian varieties such as Malvasia and Sangiovese, all of which are sourced from California.

In keeping with wines’ approachable style and food-friendly focus, the labels feature beautiful illustrations of fruit and other flavors found in the respective wine bottle. Additionally, in keeping with Cheryl’s desire to give back to the community, she launched HandCraft Cares, which offers healthy lifestyle tips, recipes and supports various causes near and dear to Cheryl’s heart such as the $100,000 raised in 2012 for breast cancer research, prevention and awareness. This dedication spills over to her team, which has also participating in walk-a-thons and other charitable events.

I probably should have asked Cheryl a lot of detailed questions about her wines, but in reality, it was much more fun to simply sit back and get to know Cheryl, Holly, Pat and Karen, personally, instead of professionally, over some lovely glasses of wine and delicious food. In fact, these are precisely the type of wines with which to do so – these are honest, gulp-able wines that don’t require pomp and circumstance, just an empty glass and an open heart. Moreover, at $13.00 a bottle they under-promise and over-deliver.

HandCraft Chardonnay 2011, California, USA
The Chardonnay, blended with “a dash of Malvasia Bianca” is rich and buttery with peach and pear aromas and flavors. Its full body was opulent and giving.

HandCraft Pinot Noir 2010, California USA
Blended with Sangiovese, the Pinot Noir is very fruity, but varietally correct. It has cherry and herbal notes with bright acidity and low tannins.

HandCraft Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, California USA
Like the Pinot Noir, the Cabernet is also joined by Sangiovese, which seems to be more evident in this wine with a slight tomato leaf character on the palate. Lush blackberry fruit dominates, with medium tannins and full body.

HandCraft Petite Sirah 2011, California USA
Sourced from Lodi, the Petite Sirah grapes are blended with Zinfandel, which is an almost identical variety to southern Italy’s Primitivo grape. The wine is smoky with cocoa notes and rich, ripe black fruit.

Label image courtesy of Delicato Family Vineyards.