We are proud to announce that The Wine Company is the new Minnesota distributor for the amazing wines of Failla, one of the shining stars of the “cool” (literally and figuratively) California wine movement.

The winery was founded in 1998 by Ehren Jordan and Anne-Marie Failla, coming out of a wine education that included stints at restaurants, retailers, and various wineries in various capacities, both in California and abroad. Though he’s never taken a single winemaking class in a school, Ehren put in his time while absorbing knowledge at Joseph Phelps, Jean-Luc Columbo, and many more. Most notably, he was the head winemaker at Turley Wine Cellars for many years, where he earned a worldwide reputation.

When it came time to open their own winery, Jordan and Failla sought out the cool climate, difficult to farm vineyards of coastal california at a time when those vineyards were not getting the kind of love and attention they garner today.

Wines of elegance, restraint, and a respect for European ideals are always a pleasure to come across. We’ve never been big on the bold around here at The Wine Company, often seeing pairing wines with foods to be a far better barometer for a judgement of quality as opposed to, say, flammability. All kidding aside, it’s wonderful to be able to represent wines such as Failla, which represent a new thinking of the old-school variety in California.

Eheren Jordan was San Francisco Chronicle’s Winemaker of the Year in 2008. This article has GREAT INFO regarding who he his and how he thinks.

A fine profile piece from Terroirist.com on Ehren Jordan.

From Wine Enthusiast, a good article on the new(er) Fort Ross-Seaview AVA and many of the wineries located or sourcing from there (including Failla).

And lastly this article, which mentions the Failla labels are designed by Chuck House, who got his start when a motorcycle riding punk named John Williams pulled into a 7-11 and asked the kid at the counter, who was doodling in his notebook, to design a label for a place called Frog’s Leap, as we wrote about in our blog.

FIND THE WINES
Failla makes a wide range of wines from very specific sites. If you are searching for the single vineyard / uber-limited wines feel free to contact us and we’ll send you in the right direction.

However, the two Sonoma Coast designated wines, the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, are listed below. Always call ahead to confirm availability! Accounts are listed alphabetically by city.

Failla Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

The Beanery
Aitkin
218-927-7811

Downtown Liquor
Alexandria
612-763-5404

Austin Country Club
Austin
507-437-7631

Total Wine & More #1601 - Bloomington
Bloomington
952-835-6063

Downtown Wine And Spirits
Buffalo
763-682-1138

Total Wine & More #1606 - Chanhassen
Chanhassen
952-934-6484

Do Not Use Old Owner - Spanky's Stone Hearth
Frazee
218-334-3555

Liquor Hutch
Hutchinson
320-587-2762

Sunfish Cellars
Lilydale
651-552-5955

Liquor Barn
Long Lake
952-473-1817

Total Wine & More #1605 - Maple Grove
Maple Grove
763-488-3300

Spiritz Liquor
Melrose
320-256-6300

South Lyndale Liquor
Minneapolis
612-827-5811

Guthrie Theater - Culinaire
Minneapolis
612-225-6472

France 44
Minneapolis
612-925-3252

Campus Club - U Of Mn
Minneapolis
612-624-9136

Eato
Minneapolis
612-208-1638

Lunds & Byerlys - Mpls
Minneapolis
952-927-3663

Burch Steak & Pizza Bar
Minneapolis
612-843-1515

Hennepin-lake Liquors
Minneapolis
612-825-4411

Cave Vin
Minneapolis
612-922-0100

112 Eatery
Minneapolis
612-343-7696

Corner Table
Minneapolis
612-823-0011

Closed 510 Restaurant (la Belle Vie)
Minneapolis
612-874-6440

Total Wine & More #1602 - Roseville
Roseville
301-795-1000

Minneapolis Golf Club
Saint Louis Park
952-544-4471

Liquor Boy
Saint Louis Park
952-512-2200

Gipper's
Saint Paul


Samples - Robbin Hilgert
Saint Paul


Maxwell Jones
Saint Paul


Strip Club Meat & Fish
Saint Paul
651-793-6247

Angela Kallsen
Saint Paul


Samples - Taylor Stein
Saint Paul


Heirloom Kitchen And Bar
Saint Paul
651-493-7267

Surdyk's Flights - Terminal 1
St Paul
612-727-2323

Liberty Village Wines & Spirits
Stillwater
651-439-3022

*****

Failla Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

The Beanery
Aitkin
218-927-7811

Downtown Liquor
Alexandria
612-763-5404

Tournament Liquor - Blaine
Blaine
763-786-4992

Top Ten Liquors - Blaine
Blaine
763-754-3231

Bricks Kitchen And Pub
Blaine
763-703-4109

Hilton Mpls-bloomington
Bloomington
952-893-9500

Fitger's Wine Cellars
Duluth
218-733-0792

Do Not Use Old Owner - Spanky's Stone Hearth
Frazee
218-334-3555

Lunds & Byerlys - Golden Valley
Golden Valley
763-544-8846

T-box Bar & Grill
Ham Lake
763-413-9950

On The Rocks Wine & Spirits
Hugo
651-787-9480

Liquor Hutch
Hutchinson
320-587-2762

Brackett's Crossing Country Club
Lakeville
952-435-7600

Sunfish Cellars
Lilydale
651-552-5955

Liquor Barn
Long Lake
952-473-1817

Mgm - Mankato
Mankato
507-625-2420

Spiritz Liquor
Melrose
320-256-6300

The Wine Market
Mendota Heights
651-452-9463

Stella's Fish Cafe
Minneapolis
612-824-8862

Cave Vin
Minneapolis
612-922-0100

Mercy Dining Room & Bar
Minneapolis
612-252-7000

France 44
Minneapolis
612-925-3252

South Lyndale Liquor
Minneapolis
612-827-5811

North Loop Wine & Spirits
Minneapolis
612-338-5393

Spoon & Stable
Minneapolis
612-224-9850

Lunds & Byerlys - Mpls
Minneapolis
952-927-3663

Minikahda Club
Minneapolis
612-926-1601

Glen Lake Wine & Spirits
Minnetonka
952-935-7375

The Wine Shop
Minnetonka
952-988-9463

Spasso
Minnetonka
952-224-9555

Mgm - Minnetonka
Minnetonka
952-470-2062

Crate & Compass
Moorhead
701-575-1170

Tessa's Office
Rochester
507-226-7763

Matt Hines
Saint Paul


Mcdonnell, Christopher
Saint Paul


Samples - Taylor Stein
Saint Paul


Gipper's
Saint Paul


Thomas Liquor
Saint Paul
651-699-1860

Samples - Robbin Hilgert
Saint Paul


The Commodore
Saint Paul
651-330-5999

Robbin Hilgert
Saint Paul


Brent Harms
Saint Paul


Tom Lloyd
Saint Paul


Josh Holtorf
Saint Paul


Do Not Use - Scandia Olde Towne Liquor
Scandia
651-433-5845

Gianni's
Wayzata
952-404-1100