Bespoke Collection facts for kids
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| Private company | |
| Industry | Wine |
| Founded | United States |
| Founder | Michael Polenske |
| Headquarters |
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United States
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Number of locations
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5 |
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Area served
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International |
| Products | Wine, fine art, design |
The Bespoke Collection is a company that makes wine and also focuses on a special way of living, like a "lifestyle brand." It's based in Yountville, California, in the United States. This company includes two wine brands: Blackbird Vineyards and Recuerdo Wines. It also has an art and design gallery called Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley. Another art gallery, I. Wolk Gallery, is located in St. Helena, California.
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History of Bespoke Collection
Michael Polenske bought the Blackbird Vineyard in 2003. It's located in the Oak Knoll District in California. He first used the 10-acre property as a vacation spot. It has a vineyard, an old farmhouse, a ranch home, and a pool.
In 2006, Polenske left his job in finance. He wanted to create a special company focused on wine, art, and design. This company became the Bespoke Collection. His interest in wine grew when his father, a pilot in the military, was stationed in California. Polenske moved to Napa Valley full-time.
He opened Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley in 2008. This place is a gallery for wine, art, and design. In 2010, Polenske also bought the I. Wolk Gallery in St. Helena, California.
Bespoke Collection also started a membership program. Members can get special wines from Bespoke Collection brands. They also get invited to exclusive events. There's also a program called Bespoke Benefits. It lets members earn points when they buy Bespoke Collection products, including art and design items. In March 2014, Bespoke Collection opened a new art and design gallery in Healdsburg, California.
Blackbird Vineyards
After buying the Blackbird Vineyard, Michael Polenske created a wine brand. This brand uses the Merlot grapes grown on the vineyard. Blackbird makes special red wines inspired by a French wine region called Pomerol. They blend Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. They also make a rosé wine from these three types of grapes. The wine labels feature pictures of blackbirds.
Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley
Ma(i)sonry is a unique gallery for wine, art, and design. It's located in Yountville, California. It started in 2007 and opened in October 2008. Michael Polenske bought an old stone building that used to be a hotel for over 50 years. The name "Ma(i)sonry" is a clever mix of the French word maison (meaning house) and the English word masonry (which means stonework).
Ma(i)sonry sells modern and modern art pieces. They also offer vintage and new furniture. Some of these furniture items are designed by Polenske himself. They have shown works by famous artists like Alexandra von Fürstenberg and Jedd Novatt. Ma(i)sonry also hosts special fashion events called trunk shows. These events feature fashion lines from the San Francisco Bay Area.
You can see selected artworks both inside and outside Ma(i)sonry. They have a beautiful sculpture garden. There are also other sculpture gardens at Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley, MacArthur Place in Sonoma, and Solage in Calistoga.
Ma(i)sonry lets visitors taste wines from many different winemakers. This includes Bespoke Collection's own brands, Blackbird Vineyards and Recuerdo Wines. They also have a special program where you can try different wine flights with food pairings. This pairs Bespoke Collection wines with food from Thomas Keller's restaurant, Addendum.
In 2011, Ma(i)sonry held special dinners with small, unique wineries. The food was provided by chef Cindy Pawlcyn. Blackbird Vineyards winemaker, Aaron Pott, has also made wines for Ma(i)sonry. These wines include Marsanne, Tempranillo, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a special red blend. All these wines are made from grapes grown in Napa Valley. They are sold under the Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley label.
Ma(i)sonry has a wine club called Medallion. Members get early access to new wines and special events. They also receive free tastings at the tasting room. Ma(i)sonry has worked with Robb Report for special auction packages. In 2013, Ma(i)sonry opened its first tasting room outside of Yountville. It's located in Restoration Hardware's gallery in Boston, Massachusetts.
The New York Times newspaper chose Ma(i)sonry as a must-visit place in Napa Valley in 2010. It also won the 2013 Best of Wine Tourism award for Art & Culture in Napa Valley.
Ma(i)sonry's Historic Building
The building where Ma(i)sonry is located is very special. It's one of only two buildings in Yountville listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site. It was built in 1904 as a house for a farmer named Charles Rovegno. The building has two stories and is about 3,000 square feet. From the 1970s until 2007, it was known as the Burgundy House Inn.
The building was renovated for 18 months. Architect Douglas Thornley and the Roche + Roche Landscape Architecture firm worked on it. Roche + Roche created five outdoor spaces for wine tasting. These spaces are in a garden setting and include a fire pit. There's also a huge redwood table that is five inches thick and 36-feet long. Polenske calls the outside area a "living gallery." The design was inspired by a castle owned by a Belgian designer. There is also a private tasting room that looks out over the beautiful gardens.
Recuerdo Wines
Recuerdo Wines is a brand of wines based in Mendoza, Argentina. The wines are made through a company called The Vines of Mendoza. Winemakers Santiago Achával and Pablo Martorell create them. Recuerdo mainly focuses on Malbec wine. They also produce a white wine called Torrontés.
You can buy Recuerdo wines at Ma(i)sonry and at The Vines of Mendoza. They also sell their wine online. They have a wine club called Recollection. This club lets members buy new wines early. It also offers special events and chances to travel to Mendoza.
How Recuerdo Wines are Made
Recuerdo's Malbec grapes are grown in the Uco Valley in Argentina. The vineyard is located very high up, at 3,700 feet above sea level. The Torrontés grapes come from the La Rioja Province in Argentina.
