At Tierra Luna Cellars, every bottle of wine holds more than just wine; it holds a story. And no wine tells it more gracefully than our Nova Stella White Blend. Crisp, floral, and full of promise, Nova Stella (“new star”) reminds us that great things start small. Like a single grape.
So today, we’re taking you on a journey. From sunlit vines in Lodi to the elegant swirl in your glass. Here’s the life of a grape, and how it becomes our shining star.
🌱 Stage 1: Bud Break: The Dream Awakens
It all begins in early spring. The vineyard, dormant through winter, starts to stir. Tiny buds swell on the vine, eventually bursting open with the first green shoots of the season. These buds hold the future grapes, still just a dream waiting to grow.
The anticipation. Just like that first sip of wine before a toast, it holds potential, energy, and hope.
🌿 Stage 2: Flowering & Fruit Set: A Delicate Balance
By late spring, clusters of tiny, almost invisible flowers bloom. Pollination begins, and nature gets to work. Only the most successful blooms become grapes. It’s a vulnerable time. Weather, wind, and timing all matter.
☀️ Stage 3: Veraison: The Turning Point
Mid to late summer brings the magic of veraison: when grapes begin to soften and change color. For white grapes, it’s when they start to turn translucent golden-green and develop the sugars and acids that will define their flavor.
Nova Stella Moment: Transformation. This is where brightness, freshness, and fruit character begin. You can almost taste it.
🍇 Stage 4: Harvest: The Moment of Truth
Timing is everything. At Tierra Luna Cellars, we hand-pick our grapes in the cool early morning to preserve their freshness. The Lodi sun gives us rich, vibrant fruit, but it’s up to our team to know exactly when to bring it in.
Nova Stella Moment: Clarity and direction. The grapes are ready to become something more: to tell their story.
🛠️ Stage 5: Crush & Fermentation: Science Meets Art
The grapes are gently pressed to release their juice. Fermentation begins where natural sugars are transformed into alcohol. For Nova Stella, this is done in stainless steel to preserve its crisp, fruit-forward style. No oak. No interference. Just purity.
Nova Stella Moment: Alchemy. This is where the personality of the wine is born. Floral, refreshing, with a celestial lift.
🕰️ Stage 6: Blending & Bottling: The Vision Comes Together
Nova Stella is a blend, which means our winemaker carefully selects and combines varietals to create the perfect harmony of flavor. Once blended, it’s bottled, labeled, and sent out into the world to dinners, celebrations, quiet evenings, and everything in between.
Nova Stella Moment: A new star is born. And you’re holding it in your hand.
🍷 Final Sip
From vine to glass, the journey of a single grape is full of intention, care, and wonder. Just like the dreams that led to Tierra Luna Cellars. When you pour a glass of Nova Stella, you’re not just tasting a wine, you’re tasting the land, the labor, and the love behind every step.
Here’s to the grape. To the growers. To the dreamers. And to every Nova Stella waiting to rise.