Video: Behind the Wine with Artie Johnson of Le Artishasic Wines

Artie Johnson II labels himself 1% winemaker and 99% artist. After years in the food and wine industry – a career that took him to Houston, Austin, New York City, Miami Beach, and beyond – he now finds himself in Napa producing his own wine, Le Artishasic.

Le Artishasic is a small production blend started in 2015, focussing on single-vineyard Rosé, Chardonnay, and Syrah from Northern California. Their mission is to make delicious well-balanced, food-friendly wines with strong attention to detail and minimal intervention. Artie sources pristine fruit farmed by experienced and passionate, small family growers, aiming to capture vineyard character and vintage expression in the glass every time.

The name Le Artishasic is derived from a combination of Artie's son's, wife's and daughter's names (Artie, Shannon, Sicily). Artie strives to honor them daily, with a hands on approach to the entire process, from grape growing, to winemaking, to client services.

About the wines

Almost 100% of Artie's wines are sold directly to clients he's worked with in the past but, lucky for us, he generously agreed to offer a special three-bottle bundle on the Coravin Wine Shop.

Included in this 3-pack are:

2018 Le Artishasic Vin Clair Cuvée No. 1

This deceptively complex medium-bodied white blend has aromas of vanilla and honeysuckle, while new flavors continually reveal themselves on the palate including peach, pear, nectarine, and green apple.

• Grapes: Albarino, Arneis, Tocai Friulano, and Chardonnay

• Pair with: sea bass, cream soup, ceviche

• Cases made: 144

2018 Le Artishasic Vin Rouge Cuvée No. 1

This New World red blend that evokes its old world roots is really complex with notes of raspberry, black currant, and wood with a super long finish.

• Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre, Graciano, and Cinsault

• Pair with: Tallegio cheese, pizza, Indian food

• Cases made: 215

2015 Le Artishasic Old Vine Carignan Redwood Valley

Carignan is a unique red grape variety of Spanish origin that is more commonly found in French wine, but is widely planted throughout the western Mediterranean and around the globe. This late ripening variety develops silky tannins, bright acidity, and a long complex finish. Aromatics of violet, rose petal, and baking spices, complement a palate of cranberry, black cherry, and licorice.

• Grapes: Carignan

• Pair with: black truffle risotto, Peking duck, lentils, foie gras, brown bread, toro

• Cases made: 154

We talked to Artie about all three. Watch the video below: