At a glance
- Winemaking
- Ernesto Álvarez-Morphy Camou, vintner and founder; Michel Rolland, winemaking consultant
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
- Style
- Bordeaux-style blends · advised by Michel Rolland · naturally sweet late harvest
- Visits
- Open to the public
The house
Ernesto Álvarez-Morphy Camou founded Château Camou, and with that name already made in the valley he opened a second house on the side road to Rancho Cañada del Trigo. Viña de Frannes was born with one condition: that Michel Rolland, the Bordeaux winemaker whose signature appears on its labels, would advise it.
The style comes from that school. The house works Bordeaux grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, along with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and spreads about ten wines across two lines, Pater and Legat. Among the names are Pater, Legat Chardonnay, and Tinto de Frannes. La Guía del Vino ran a report on Rolland's influence on these reds.
The tasting room sits at the top of a hill, with tall windows facing the vineyards of Guadalupe Valley (Valle de Guadalupe). Next door is La Cocina de Frannes, a seasonal restaurant, so the guided tasting and the tour of the production area can be followed by a meal without changing places. Getting there means taking the side road to Rancho Cañada del Trigo. The address has no street number.
Among the Bordeaux-style reds there is one oddity, the Duz, a naturally sweet red from late-harvest grapes. In high season, the tasting and the table are booked by phone.
The wines
Wines from Bordeaux grapes, with Michel Rolland's signature as consultant. The reds revolve around Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, and the whites around Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The house also makes a naturally sweet late-harvest red.
Red
Pater
White
Legat Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Red
Tinto de Frannes
Dessert
Duz
A naturally sweet red from late-harvest grapes.
Grapes it works with
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
What to taste
A red from the Pater line to understand Rolland's hand and, for dessert, the Duz, naturally sweet and made from late-harvest grapes.
Why go
A tasting room with tall windows on a hilltop, vineyards below, and La Cocina de Frannes next door for staying on to eat.
The visit
Receives visitors. Confirm the hours before you go. Reservations are recommended.
Offers:TastingsToursRestaurant
Tastings and tours
Reservations are made by phone.
Amenities
- Restaurant
Getting there
Camino vecinal (side road) to Rancho Cañada del Trigo, Valle de Guadalupe
Camino vecinal al Rancho Cañada del Trigo s/n, Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, B.C. · Get directions ↗ (opens in a new tab)
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