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 LIVERMORE, Calif. - Annika Sorenstam, one of the most celebrated female golfers in history, launched her wine brand with the release of her namesake Syrha, Annika.This elegant wine is comprised of 75 percent Livermore Valley Syrah and 15 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, and fittingly, 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the Livermore Valley Golf Vineyard.
Throughout her storied 15-year playing career, Annika was fortunate to experience many of the best wines the world has to offer. At Wente Vineyards, which has partnered with Sorenstam, they share the same passion for fine wine, fine dining and golf as a way of life.
The same scenic acres that produce their varietals are also home to Northern California's premier destination golf courses. It's only natural that Annika would choose to meld her passions for fine wine and golf together in the rolling hills of the Livermore Valley at Wente Vineyards.
During professional golf career, Sorenstam wasn't much of a drinker. But as a beginner, she enjoys reading about, studying and trying different kinds of wine.
 Being a professional athlete, it wasn’t really part of something I did," she recently told Wine Spectator, "But then I started to acquire a taste for wine. The knowledge of the stories that go with each bottle—I just think it’s so neat that [wine] isn’t just a drink. Everything has a story, a little connection."
A number of other golfers have ventured into the wine business, including Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo and John Daly.
"I’m not the only one," she said in the Wine Spectator interview. "I’ve tried several Greg Norman wines, several of Arnold Palmer’s, and I have a few Ernie Els and David Frost. What’s interesting is that I’m the first female golfer to come out with a wine."
Working closely with fifth generation Winemaker Karl Wente, the two hand selected the 2006 Syrah from the Silva block on the Livermore Valley estate to be the backbone of the wine. The Syrah emits aromas of wild blackberry, plum, and strawberry that continue with chocolate and coffee flavors from the barrel. The Cabernet Sauvignon boosts the structure of the wine in the mid-pallet and augments the cassis and clove aromas. The amenable, big tannins carry the diverse flavors through the mouth for a long, rewarding finish.
The suggested retail price is $75.00 per 750ml bottle. To purchase, please visit www.annikavineyards.com.
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