New Releases
Hand-crafted, limited-production Napa Valley wines made exclusively for The Citadel, in partnership with Fairwinds Estate Winery. Join the Long Gray Line Club and experience the benefits and lifestyle!
Inaugural Release
INTRODUCING OUR FALL 2022 RELEASE VARIETALS AND LABELS
Big Red
2018 Red Wine – Napa Valley
Raise a glass to “Big Red,” the spirit flag of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. Emblazoned with a design created over 150 years ago by Charleston flag maker Hugh Vincent, it is believed that the original Big Red was flying over Morris Island when Citadel cadets fired on the supply ship The Star of the West in 1861. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, the historical flag has been proudly displayed in the John Monroe J. Holliday Alumni Center on The Citadel campus since 2010.
We introduce you to Big Red. This proprietary red blend – from our award-winning winemaker Todd Heth – exhibits dark blackberry, bing cherry, and plum notes perfectly into layers of coffee and tobacco. The finish is dry with long-lasting berry fruit. Silky but firm tannins, this wine is enjoyable now but has the ability to age well in the cellar.
Raise a glass to “Big Red,” the spirit flag of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. Emblazoned with a design created over 150 years ago by Charleston flag maker Hugh Vincent, it is believed that the original Big Red was flying over Morris Island when Citadel cadets fired on the supply ship The Star of the West in 1861. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, the historical flag has been proudly displayed in the John Monroe J. Holliday Alumni Center on The Citadel campus since 2010.
We introduce you to Big Red. This proprietary red blend – from our award-winning winemaker Todd Heth – exhibits dark blackberry, bing cherry, and plum notes perfectly into layers of coffee and tobacco. The finish is dry with long-lasting berry fruit. Silky but firm tannins, this wine is enjoyable now but has the ability to age well in the cellar.
$95 / Bottle
White Slip
2018 Chardonnay – Russian River Valley
Although The Citadel now uses electronic disciplinary records, generations of cadets have vivid memories of the paper “white slip” that was used to report disciplinary infractions large and small. Theoretically, a white slip could have been used to report positive performance, but whether this ever happened is a question best discussed over a perfectly chilled glass of White Slip.
We introduce you to White Slip. Hailing from the cool and foggy climate for the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, this beautiful medium-bodied wine was grown slowly to build intense flavors over time. This wine was aged in French oak and displays a beautiful balance of fruit, oak and liveliness on the palate and exhibits lush mango and toasted almond. Balanced fruit with tarte acidity makes this wine a classic example of Premium Russian River Chardonnay.
Although The Citadel now uses electronic disciplinary records, generations of cadets have vivid memories of the paper “white slip” that was used to report disciplinary infractions large and small. Theoretically, a white slip could have been used to report positive performance, but whether this ever happened is a question best discussed over a perfectly chilled glass of White Slip.
We introduce you to White Slip. Hailing from the cool and foggy climate for the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, this beautiful medium-bodied wine was grown slowly to build intense flavors over time. This wine was aged in French oak and displays a beautiful balance of fruit, oak and liveliness on the palate and exhibits lush mango and toasted almond. Balanced fruit with tarte acidity makes this wine a classic example of Premium Russian River Chardonnay.
$56 / Bottle
Betsy and Lizzie
Sparkling Brut -Méthode Champenoise – Napa Valley
Betsy and Lizzie, the two salute guns fired during The Citadel’s parades, are named for the wives of Citadel alumni George Edward Haynsworth and Samuel Bonneau Pickens. While nothing is quite as impressive as firing cannons in celebration, popping the cork on a bottle of Betsy and Lizzie Brut sparkling wine is most certainly a close second.
We introduce you to Betsy & Lizzie. This premium sparkling wine – meticulously and artfully made in the traditional champagne method – rivals anything found from the best Champagne houses in Épernay and Reims. Blended superbly from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this magnificent Napa Valley Brut exhibits rich fruit aromatics of strawberry and delicate white cherry that follows through to a creamy mid-palate accompanied with highlights of lime and wet minerality and a lingering vibrant finish.
Betsy and Lizzie, the two salute guns fired during The Citadel’s parades, are named for the wives of Citadel alumni George Edward Haynsworth and Samuel Bonneau Pickens. While nothing is quite as impressive as firing cannons in celebration, popping the cork on a bottle of Betsy and Lizzie Brut sparkling wine is most certainly a close second.
We introduce you to Betsy & Lizzie. This premium sparkling wine – meticulously and artfully made in the traditional champagne method – rivals anything found from the best Champagne houses in Épernay and Reims. Blended superbly from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this magnificent Napa Valley Brut exhibits rich fruit aromatics of strawberry and delicate white cherry that follows through to a creamy mid-palate accompanied with highlights of lime and wet minerality and a lingering vibrant finish.
$85 / Bottle