Posts Tagged ‘vineyards’

Mar 27, 2006

The Aesthetic Value of Vineyard Restrictions

Where ever there are hills and vines I think we can expect a movement to restrict exactly how vineyards are planted. We are seeing this scenario play out once again, this time in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco and one of the most impressive growing regions in the state. Napa Valley and Sonoma County has already dealt with the issue of where and how vines can be planted on hillsides. The movement to preserve the hillsides as…

Mar 17, 2006

Is $1.2 Million Enough for Sonoma Wine Country?

$1.2 Million It’s not a huge amount, but it is enough to garner some attention. This is the amount money that will be raised if Sonoma County grape growers vote to institute a self assessment to fund a "Sonoma County Wine Grape Commission"whose mission it will be to promote the Sonoma County as a grape growing, wine making haven. The vote among Sonoma County grape growers is set for May. Based on the story in the Press Democrat it appears…

Mar 2, 2006

Q&A Thurs: Can nearby plants affect a wine’s flavor?

CAN THE FLORA AND FAUNA THAT SURROUND A VINEYARD CONTRIBUTE TO THE TASTE OR AROMAS OF A WINE MADE FROM THAT VINEYARD? The answer is yes. The classic example used in California is the instance of a vineyard that might have eucalyptus trees surrounding it. In this case, people have claimed to detect a distinctive "minty" quality in the wine that is attributed to the oils from the tree adhering to the grapes and being transferred to the wine. Another…

Feb 21, 2006

Top 2005 Pinot Noirs

I think it’s fair to say that Pinot Noir is the most exciting area of winemaking in California today. The Pinot Noir category is churning up new producers. Newer Pinot producing regions are strutting their stuff. And, various styles of Pinot Noir are lining the shelves, one next to the other, from the more elegantly styled to the blockbuster powerhouses. It’s really a time of great experimentation and change when it comes to Pinot. This is why it’s so exciting…