Each week, I spotlight a wine that truly captivates—whether for its distinctive character, compelling backstory, or the simple joy it brings in the glass. This week’s feature, the 2024 Sandlands Kirschenbloom , delivers on all three counts and then some!

A Winemaker’s Curiosity, a Shared Table, and the Spark of Inspiration

What has always impressed me about the best winemakers is not just their craftsmanship, but their curiosity—and their deep sense of community. Tegan Passalacqua is a shining example. In addition to his role as Director of Winemaking at Turley Wine Cellars and his personal project, Sandlands, he regularly opens his home in Victor, California, for what’s affectionately known as the Victor Book Club.

Despite its name, there are no reading assignments. Instead, it’s an ongoing gathering of winemakers, growers, and wine lovers from around the world who come together to break bread and share bottles. It’s in this space—one of open exchange and mutual inspiration—that Passalacqua first tasted a wine that would spark this very project: a Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Rosé made by Cristiana Tiberio of Agricola Tiberio. That moment planted the seed for Kirschenbloom.

About Sandlands

Sandlands is Passalacqua’s personal exploration of California’s forgotten vinous heritage. As the winery puts it, the project focuses on “classic California varieties, primarily grown in decomposed granite (sand), from regions and vineyards that have been farmed for many generations but have remained the outliers of California viticulture.”

His lineup includes compelling bottlings of Chenin Blanc, Cinsault, Mataro, Carignane, Trousseau, and Assyrtiko. Most recently, he’s even begun planting Carricante and Nerello Mascalese—two classic Sicilian grape varieties—on volcanic soils in the Sierra Foothills AVA, in a town fittingly named…Volcano.

2024 Sandlands Kirschenbloom

The 2024 Kirschenbloom is 100% sourced from Passalacqua’s own Kirschenmann Vineyard in Lodi, which is certified under the LODI RULES sustainable winegrowing program. The name “Kirschenbloom” pays tribute to the vineyard’s heritage (Kirschenmann means “cherry man” in German) and the Lodi cherry blossoms that signal the arrival of spring.

The wine is a blend of 68% Zinfandel and 32% Cinsault, both de-stemmed and given skin contact until the onset of fermentation. The juice is then drained, the skins pressed, and fermentation continues in stainless steel until dry. Aging in neutral French oak barrels allows the wine to blossom into its darkly hued, savory style

Tasting Note: Pale cherry red with black and red cherry, raspberry, damp clay, dried herb white pepper, and subtle mint aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied with juicy acidity and just enough tannins to make it more interesting as a rosé than a light-bodied red. It show’s black and red cherry, raspberry, a hint of red currant, baking spice, with a very appealing savory note and a satisfying finish.

13.4% ABV | SRP: $24|92 pts
Outstanding value!

Final Thoughts

Though it shares a visual resemblance with dark rosés like Tavel from the Rhône, Kretzer from Alto Adige, and the Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo that inspired it, flavor-wise it reminds me of something rarer: a Rosé des Riceys I tasted years ago in the Aube region of Champagne.

These are wines that drink more like juicy, chillable reds—complex, age-worthy, and packed with personality. That’s what makes the 2024 Kirschenbloom so compelling. It’s not your typical rosé. It’s soulful, story-driven, and remarkably expressive—all for just $24. A wine with exceptional QPR, and one that will no doubt linger in my memory as much as it does on the palate.