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. It is also a lifestyle brand. This means they offer products and experiences that fit a certain way of living. The company is located in Yountville, California, USA.
Bespoke Collection has two main wine brands: Blackbird Vineyards and Recuerdo Wines. They also have a special place called Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley. It is a gallery where you can see art, design items, and taste wine. There is another art gallery in St. Helena, California called I. Wolk Gallery.
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History of Bespoke Collection
Michael Polenske bought the Blackbird Vineyard in 2003. It is in the Oak Knoll District of California. He first bought it as a vacation spot. The property is 10 acres and has a vineyard, an old farmhouse, and a pool.
In 2006, Polenske left his job in finance. He wanted to create a luxury brand that focused on wine, art, and design. This idea became the Bespoke Collection. His interest in wine started when his father was in the US military. His father was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. Polenske moved to Napa Valley full-time.
He opened Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley in 2008. This was a gallery for wine, art, and design. In 2010, Polenske bought the I. Wolk Gallery in St. Helena, California. Bespoke Collection also started a membership program. Members get special wines and access to events. They also have a program called Bespoke Benefits. Members earn points when they buy Bespoke Collection products, like art. In March 2014, Bespoke Collection opened a new art and design gallery in Healdsburg, California.
Blackbird Vineyards
After buying the Blackbird Vineyard, Michael Polenske started a wine brand. This brand uses the Merlot grapes grown in the vineyard. Blackbird Vineyards makes red wines inspired by a French wine region called Pomerol. They mix Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. They also make a rosé wine from these three types of grapes. The wine bottles have pictures of blackbirds on their labels.
Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley
Ma(i)sonry is a gallery for wine, art, and design. It is located in Yountville, California. It was created in 2007 and opened in October 2008. Michael Polenske bought an old stone building that used to be a hotel. The name "Ma(i)sonry" is a play on words. It combines the French word maison (meaning house) and the English word masonry (meaning stonework).
Ma(i)sonry sells modern and new art. They also sell vintage and new furniture. Some items are designed by Polenske himself. They have shown works by famous artists and designers. They also host special events called trunk shows for fashion brands. Some artworks are displayed outside in Ma(i)sonry's sculpture garden. There are other sculpture gardens at different locations in Napa Valley and Sonoma.
Ma(i)sonry lets visitors taste wines from many different winemakers. This includes wines from Bespoke Collection's own brands. They also offer a program where you can try different wines with food. In 2011, Ma(i)sonry held special dinners with wines and food from famous chefs. The winemaker for Blackbird Vineyards, Aaron Pott, has made wines for Ma(i)sonry. These wines include different types like Marsanne and Cabernet Sauvignon. All these wines are made from grapes grown in Napa Valley.
Ma(i)sonry has a wine club called Medallion. Members get early access to new wines. They also get special event access and free tastings. In 2013, Ma(i)sonry opened a tasting room in Boston, Massachusetts. The New York Times newspaper called Ma(i)sonry a must-visit place in Napa Valley in 2010. It also won an award in 2013 for Best of Wine Tourism for Art & Culture in Napa Valley.
Ma(i)sonry Building History
The building where Ma(i)sonry is located is very special. It is one of only two buildings in Yountville listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1904 for a farmer named Charles Rovegno. The building has two floors and is 3,000 square feet. From the 1970s until 2007, it was an inn called the Burgundy House Inn.
The building was renovated for 18 months. An architect named Douglas Thornley and a landscape design company worked on it. They created five outdoor areas for wine tasting in a garden. These areas include a fire pit and a very long redwood table. The outside of the building is like a "living gallery." There is also a private tasting room that looks out over the gardens.
Recuerdo Wines
Recuerdo Wines is a brand of wines from Mendoza, Argentina. The wines are made by winemakers Santiago Achával and Pablo Martorell. Recuerdo mainly focuses on Malbec wine. They also make a white wine called Torrontés.
You can buy Recuerdo wines at Ma(i)sonry and at The Vines of Mendoza. They also sell their wines online and through their wine club, Recollection. The wine club lets members buy new wines early. It also offers events and chances to travel to Mendoza.
Recuerdo Winemaking
Recuerdo's Malbec grapes grow in the Uco Valley in Argentina. The vineyard is located very high up, at 3,700 feet. The Torrontés grapes come from the La Rioja Province.
