Kabayan Wines 'El Rotoño Vineyard' Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, CA 2023

Kabayan Wines is rooted in the joy of bringing communities together, celebrating the vibrant flavors of Filipino cuisine alongside thoughtfully crafted wines. Kabayan's Sauvignon Blanc, crafted by Justine Osilla, is perfect for pairing with bold flavors or savoring on a sunny day by the pool, delivering a true taste of community and craftsmanship.

• WINEMAKER: Justine Osilla
• FARMING: Sustainable and regenerative practices
• VARIETY: 100% Sauvignon Blanc (Musqué clone)
• TERROIR: Sourced from the El Rotoño Vineyard, a small, family-run site in Kelseyville, Lake County. Planted in 2002, the vineyard focuses on sustainable and regenerative farming. The Musqué clone grows on heavy clay loam soils, which are ideal for Sauvignon Blanc.
• VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested at 21.9 Brix. 95% of the juice was fermented with VL3 yeast in neutral French oak, while 5% underwent native fermentation with skins included. The wine underwent battonage (stirring of lees) for 2.5 weeks and was aged sur lie for 6 months before blending and bottling.
• AGING: 6 months sur lie in neutral French oak barrels
• TASTING NOTES: Aromatic and zippy, showcasing jasmine green tea, peach, orange blossom, and passionfruit.
• FOOD PAIRINGS: Complements crispy pork sisig, sinigang (tamarind soup), bulalo (bone marrow soup), and fresh lumpia.
• ANALYSIS: Alcohol: 12.7% | Total Acidity: 6.8 g/L | Residual Sugar: Dry
• CASES PRODUCED: 50

From Our 2025 Bottle Cult Notes:

The smell of a home-cooked meal isn’t just physically appetizing—it’s deeply nostalgic. It has the power to transport you, pulling you back to the warmth of family gatherings, the comfort of your mother’s kitchen, and the timeless ritual of sharing a meal. This sense of home and belonging is exactly what Kabayan Wines embodies.

Kabayan is a word in the Filipino language that speaks to community—loosely translating to “my people.” As winemaker and owner Justine Osilla explains, “Kabayan Wines is driven by a passion to bring people together, to share my Filipino culture with you all -over great wine meant to be enjoyed on its own or paired with the dishes I grew up with.”

Justine’s path to winemaking wasn’t linear. She originally studied chemistry with plans for a medical career but found herself drawn to the artistry and science of enology. With a background that spans chemistry, WSET certifications, and even a stint as a piano teacher, her approach to winemaking is both deeply technical and creatively inspired.

In Napa Valley, we tend to throw around the term independent winemaker loosely. But with just two vintages under the Kabayan label, Justine has already showcased years of expertise in winemaking, hospitality, and community building. Her Sauvignon Blanc comes from El Rótano Vineyard in Kelseyville, Lake County—a small, family-run site where 20+-year-old vines thrive in heavy clay loam soils. Farmed sustainably and with
regenerative practices, these vines produce a complex, mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc with serious character.

This Sauvignon Blanc is bright and zippy, with a great, almost creamy texture from six months of extended lees contact and French oak barrel aging. True to a New World style with Old World influence, it’s aromatic and fruit-driven, leading with papaya and passionfruit, while zesty orange blossom and jasmine add lift and freshness.

Justine suggests pairing it with crispy pork sisig, sinigang (tamarind soup), bulalo (bone marrow soup), and fresh lumpia—traditional Filipino dishes that complement the wine’s bright acidity and rich texture. —Kaylee Daly, DECANTnapa