Manteo the mighty Ruled with wisdom Dwelt in peace beside the waters Smoked his pipe beneath the pine-tree “Come,” he said, “the darkness falleth” And she placed the babe in his strong arms
THE STORY
MANTEO takes its name from a legendary Native American leader who played an important role in the Virginia Dare story.
In 1587, English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh appointed Governor John White to form a colonial expedition to the new world—one of the first intended to be a permanent colony, years before Jamestown. When they arrived in what is now North Carolina’s Outer Banks, they sought help from the Croatoan, whose territory encompassed the region. Manteo, a chief of the tribe, had traveled twice to England, met the Queen, and was fascinated by European technology. As a man trusted and respected by all, he was a natural liaison between the colonists and Native Americans. Soon after the colonists’ arrival, Governor White’s daughter, Eleanor, gave birth to a baby girl, Virginia Dare. She was the first child of English parentage born in America, and Manteo swore to protect the child as long as they both lived. Many mysteries surround this girl and the lost colony into which she was born. It was supposedly she who, as a woman, inspired the legend of The White Doe, which tells the story of how wine grapes in America turned red.
THE WINE
Carefully selected for intensity, weight, and texture, MANTEO is a rich and immediately drinkable red blend of Sonoma County Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petite Sirah. Each varietal contributes a certain character, which when married together, gives the wine many layers of flavors, texture, and a solid tannin structure, thus making it robust enough for the warrior it’s named after.
YEAR
2015
WINEMAKER
Sandy Walheim
BLEND
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah, 14% Malbec, 6% Petite Sirah
ALCOHOL
13.8%
BARREL REGIMEN
15 months in French & American oak