Cellar #8 Red Blend

Cellar #8 Red Blend is a 750ml California red wine blending eight grape varietals at 13.8% ABV. What distinguishes this bottle from a crowded field of affordable red blends is the sheer ambition of its eight-grape composition — Petite Sirah, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese — produced at the historic Asti Winery in Northern Sonoma County. The 2010 vintage earned Silver medals at four major competitions in 2013, including the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the California State Fair.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.8%  |  Origin: California (Central & North Coast Appellations)  |  Style: Eight-Varietal Red Blend  |  Producer: Bronco Wine Company at Asti Winery

Production & Heritage

Cellar #8 is produced by Bronco Wine Company at the Asti Winery in Northern Sonoma County, a site originally founded in 1881 by Italian Swiss Colony immigrants who established one of California's earliest winemaking operations. The name itself pays tribute to that heritage — "Cellar" references the original cellaring site where those pioneers stored wine over a century ago, and the "8" denotes the number of grape varietals in the blend. Sourcing fruit from both California's Central Coast and North Coast appellations gives the winemaking team a broad palette of flavors to draw from, allowing each of the eight varieties to contribute a distinct layer without any single grape dominating the profile.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe dark berries and black cherry before moving into deeper notes of plum and cassis. A secondary wave of black pepper, cedar, and clove emerges alongside a subtle smoky toast character from oak aging.

Taste: The entry is soft and silky, with restrained red fruit that avoids the overly jammy sweetness common in this category. At mid-palate, bright spice and roasted coffee notes come forward, balanced by moderate acidity. Legitimate tannins provide structure, while all eight varietals integrate seamlessly rather than competing for attention.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering brown spice, smoky oak, and a pleasant dryness. The tannins carry through cleanly without bitterness, leaving a warm, spice-driven close.

How to Drink Cellar #8

At room temperature in a large-bowled glass, Cellar #8 shows its full aromatic complexity; a few minutes of breathing after the pour helps the eight-varietal blend open up. Its balanced structure and moderate tannins also make it a capable cocktail ingredient. A Kalimotxo (red wine and cola over ice) works well here because the wine's dark fruit and spice stand up to the sweetness. A Red Wine Sangria loaded with stone fruit and citrus plays off the plum and cassis notes naturally. A classic New York Sour — whiskey sour floated with red wine — benefits from the blend's deep color and firm tannic backbone.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners where you want something more interesting than a single-varietal pour
• Introducing someone to complex red blends without a steep price commitment
• Casual gatherings and barbecues where a crowd-pleasing, food-friendly red is needed
• Exploring California red blends before moving into higher-end bottlings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cellar #8 taste like? Cellar #8 delivers ripe dark berry fruit, roasted coffee, and baking spice supported by firm tannins and balanced acidity. It avoids the overly sweet, fruit-bomb character of many value red blends in favor of a more structured, spice-driven profile.

How does Cellar #8 compare to Apothic Red? Both are affordable California red blends, but Cellar #8 uses eight varietals compared to Apothic Red's typical four and tends toward a drier, more tannic profile. Apothic Red leans into residual sweetness and vanilla, while Cellar #8 emphasizes spice, coffee, and structure.

Is Cellar #8 good for beginners? Yes — its soft entry, moderate tannins, and familiar dark fruit flavors make it approachable for newer wine drinkers, while the eight-varietal complexity gives more experienced palates something to explore.

Where is Cellar #8 made? Cellar #8 is produced by Bronco Wine Company at the Asti Winery in Northern Sonoma County, California, a historic site founded in 1881 by Italian Swiss Colony immigrants. The grapes are sourced from vineyards across California's Central Coast and North Coast appellations.

What foods pair well with Cellar #8? Grilled tri-tip steak complements the smoky oak and tannin structure. Wood-fired pizza with sausage and roasted peppers mirrors the wine's spice and dark fruit. Braised short ribs match the blend's weight and complexity. Aged cheddar or Manchego cheese highlights the peppery, cedar-driven notes. Herb-crusted lamb chops pair naturally with the Mourvèdre and Grenache components in the blend.

What sizes does Cellar #8 come in? Cellar #8 Red Blend is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Cellar #8 worth the price? Cellar #8 positions firmly in the value tier of California red blends, but its eight-varietal composition and multiple Silver medal wins suggest it punches above its weight class in terms of complexity and drinkability for the category.

Why Cellar #8?

The eight-varietal approach is genuinely unusual at this price point — most competing blends rely on three to five grapes. That broader palette gives the winemaking team at Asti Winery room to build a layered, balanced wine where no single variety overwhelms the others. The historic provenance of the Asti Winery, dating to 1881, lends real heritage to what could otherwise be dismissed as a simple supermarket red. Multiple Silver medals at recognized competitions confirm that the blend delivers measurable quality, and the structured, spice-forward profile sets it apart from sweeter, more commercial alternatives in the affordable California red blend category.