50/50
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, slow-roasted lamb shanks, wild mushroom polenta
✨ Technical Specifications
Scheid Vineyards' '50/50' is a masterful estate-grown red blend that marries two powerhouse varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Sourced from the family's sustainably farmed estate vineyards in the warmer southern reaches of Monterey County, particularly the Hames Valley and San Lucas AVAs, this wine benefits from the dramatic diurnal temperature swings of the region. The intense daytime heat develops rich, concentrated fruit flavors, while the chilly night winds sweeping down from Monterey Bay preserve natural acidity and structural balance. The concept of blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah has deep historical roots, famously echoing the 'Hermitagé' blends of 19th-century Bordeaux, where robust Rhône Syrah was added to Bordeaux Cabernet to lend body and color. Scheid's modern California interpretation celebrates this classic synergy, combining the structured, dark-fruit profile of Cabernet with the plush, spicy, and savory characteristics of Syrah, aged in a selection of oak barrels to integrate its bold tannins.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1972 by pioneer Al Scheid, Scheid Vineyards began as an ambitious viticultural venture in southern Monterey County, initially supplying fruit to major California wineries before evolving into a vertically integrated estate wine producer. Spanning more than 3,000 acres across a 70-mile expanse of the Salinas Valley—encompassing microclimates across the Monterey, Arroyo Seco, and Hames Valley AVAs—the estate leverages thermal diurnal shifts driven by maritime winds off Monterey Bay. Viticulture balances alluvial gravel, decomposed granite, and clay-loam soils across twelve distinct ranch sites, farmed under SIP Certified and Certified California Sustainable standards, with the winery fully powered by an onsite wind turbine. Winemaking prioritizes varietal clarity, tension, and texture across an eclectic portfolio, celebrated for vibrant Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, aromatic Viognier, racy Dry Riesling, and rare regional white bottlings such as Petit Manseng and Roussanne.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Syrah 50%
🍷 ABV
14.5%