May 4th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• John Wycliffe and Jan Hus were condemned as heretics because of their rejection of transubstantiation (the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ).
• Jean François Champollion died in 1832.  He was known for deciphering the Rosetta Stone.  It contains records from Ptolemy V including donations of wine to temples and vineyard harvests.
• Singani, a Bolivian liquor, similar to Pisco, distilled from Moscato of Alexandria received a DO in 1992.
• It is the feast day of Saint Monica of Hippo. She was known for bringing offerings of porridge, bread, water, and wine to the oratories of certain saints until she was forbidden by the local bishop. She is the patron saint of difficult marriages and disappointing children. (Her son was St. Augustine)
• Happy International Sauvignon Blanc Day!
• Happy Star Wars Day! What would Yoda drink?

St. Patrick's Day Recommendations from Qorkz

Central Coast - Wine Region of the Day

The Central Coast was designated as an AVA in 1985. Situated across 280 miles from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, the Central Coast is home to sub-appellations Arroyo Grande Valley, Arroyo Seco, Ballard Canyon, Ben Lomond Mountain, Carmel Valley, Chalone, Cienega Valley, Edna Valley, Hames Valley, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Lime Kiln Valley, Livermore Valley, Monterey, Mt. Harlan, Pacheco Pass, Paicines, Paso Robles, San Antonio Valley, San Benito, San Bernabe, San Francisco Bay, San Lucas, San Ysidro District, Santa Clara Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, and York Mountain. The Central Coast is so vast that it features a variety of soil types and microclimates across its sub-appellations. The most common vines planted across the Central Coast are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc.

Fountaingrove District - Wine Region of the Day

The Fountaingrove District received its designation as an AVA in 2015. Situated on 38,000 acres, Fountaingrove is located in Sonoma County. Most of the soils are derived from Sonoma Volcanic and Franciscan Formation bedrock and consists of volcanic materials, such as pumiceous ash flow tuff and basalt lava. The Fountaingrove District is located on the western slopes of the Mayacmas Mountains and features low, rolling hills as well as higher, steeper mountains with southwest-facing slopes. The Sonoma Mountains along the region's southwestern boundary, shelter Fountaingrove from the strongest marine breezes and heaviest fog, but an air gap in the mountains does allow some cooling air and fog into the region. The moderate temperatures within the Fountaingrove District are suitable for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Viognier grape varieties

Arroyo Seco - Wine Region of the Day

Following the river of the same name through a canyon to the Salinas Valley, the Arroyo Seco appellation is largely nestled between the Gabilan and Santa Lucia Mountains.  The name “Arroyo Seco” means dry creek or dry riverbed in Spanish and the river flows through the canyon to widen into a shallow sandy bed that goes dry seasonally.  When the river is húmeda (wet) it flows into the Salinas River.  As a result, there are two distinct microclimates in this viticultural area.

The main part of the appellation found in the Salinas Valley surround the City of Greenfield is cooler than the passage through the mountains due to afternoon winds and fogs blowing down the valley from Monterey Bay.  This keeps the mid-summer high temperatures from stressing the vines and allows the grapes to mature more slowly and develop maximum flavors.  The vines are prevented from getting too cold by the presence of 3-4 inch cobblestones called “Greenfield Potatoes” which retain the heat and release it slowly over the evenings.  This section of the appellation produces cooler friendly varietals such as Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.

The other portion of the Arroyo Seco appellation follows the river towards its source halting near the boundary of the Ventana Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest.  This section of the AVA is dominated by a steep canyon with poor soils that make the grapes work to find water.  Climatically, it is warmer than the valley, a reversal of what one normally finds given the increased elevation.  This area of the appellation produces Bordeaux and Rhone varietals as well as Zinfandel.

Though the Arroyo Seco Viticultural Area is one of the oldest in the country (formed in 1983) it has suffered because it has often been seen as a grower’s appellation.  Initially planted in the early 1960s the grapes from its 18,240 acres were often sold to other wineries that used the grapes to produces wines with either the California or Central Coast appellations.  This is changing as more wineries are using this Monterey County viticultural designation on their labels. 

2014 Agnitio Sauvignon Blanc - Wine of the Day

2014 Agnitio Sauvignon Blanc

$30

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Aromas of bright citrus, grapefruit, orange peel and kiwi are expressed on the nose, while hints of anise and limestone suggest an elegant minerality. The palate is driven by its extraordinarily soft, integrated acidity, giving this wine a refined crispness and long lasting finish.

Grapes from the Oak Knoll, Coombsville and Pope Valley AVA’s were gently whole- cluster pressed for over four hours. Juice was racked off its lies after it had a chance to settle down in a tank for 24 hours at 50°F. It was 70% fermented in barrels with a blend of 8% new French oak (Cigar Light toast barrel). The remaining 30% was fermented in a concrete egg. Both the egg and barrels were aged “sur lies fines” for 6 months with no lees stirring.

Sonoma Mountain - Wine Region of the Day

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The Sonoma Mountain AVA is located in Sonoma County, California. It is centered on the Sonoma Mountain a folded volcanic uplift.   The appellation is included in the Sonoma Valley AVA, but due to its unique elevation and geology, it was granted status as its own AVA in 1985. 

The area is known primarily for its high elevation benches.  These contain folds that create diverse micro-climates which are home to cooler climate grapes.  Primarily the area is known for thermal flows of cooler, moister air that moves down into the valley.  A southern aspect, meaning the vineyards get a more sunshine during the day.  The region sits above the fog which also increases that sunlight. This makes the area perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon.

The region's soil is a mix of basalt, ash and ancient marine deposits that were uplifted along with the volcanic rocks.  They typically consist of the Goulding Series and are cobbly to gravelly loams and are well draining.  

Sonoma Mountain is home to relatively few wineries but is the source of high-quality fruit.  The combination of the terror and the climate make this region perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, and it is the region's signature wine. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, the region known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Zinfandel.

Mendocino Ridge - Wine Region of the Day

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The Mendocino Ridge AVA is located on 262,400 acres within the coastal zone of Mendocino County, California. Mendocino Ridge's boundaries begin at the coastal ridges adjacent to the Pacific Ocean that reach inland toward the Anderson Valley. Mendocino Ridge is limited by elevation, reserved only for vineyards at or above 1200 feet. There are 2,000 acres of vineyards perched above thick fog moving inland from the Pacific Ocean blanketing the coast and the valleys between the ridge tops, allowing the vines to grow above the blanket of fog. The area is known its production of Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.

The early wine producers in this viticultural area were Italian immigrants who planted Alicante-Bouscet, Carignan, Malvasia, Muscat, Palomino and Zinfandel. The first winery in the area, and indeed all of Mendocino County, was Antonio Ciapusci who planted his land in 1878. Many of these vineyards were replanted with other crops during Prohibition but several have survived including the Ciapusci, Perli, Gianoli and Zeni vineyards.

Hames Valley

The Hames Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1994 and is situated on 10,240 acres in Monterey County in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. The Hames Valley soil is shale and loam. The regions has the largest diurnal temperature swing of any AVA in Monterey County. The grapes are exposed to a great deal of sunlight during the day, and receive some of the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean breezes in the evenings. The region is best known for producing Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

2014 Cal Star Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County - Wine of the Day

 2014 Cal Star Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County

$20

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Pale straw gold in color, the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc is the sum of three distinct parts.  At first, bold citrus and tropical notes dominate: Meyer lemon, grapefruit, lychee, honeydew melon, pineapple and kiwi.  Secondary notes balance the fruit with lemongrass, clover and a hint of sweet ginger.  Tertiary flavors of wet rock, shortbread and vanilla round the palette and draw the juicy tropical notes through the finish.  The bright acidity brings focus to the lush citrus and ripe fruit notes while finishing with bright key lime and stony minerality. 
 
With a long, cool growing season, the cool climate of the Russian River Valley keeps wines crisp while allowing the natural character of the climate to shine through.   The picturesque Crinella Marino vineyard is located in one of the warmer areas of the Russian River Valley and experiences less rain and weather challenges than many other sites in the region.
 
The grapes offer a combination of a sophisticated Sancerre of the Loire Valley and the grassier New Zealand selections.  This is a California wine for a Sauvignon Blanc enthusiast.

2014 Calstar Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County - Wine of the Day

2014 Calstar Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County

$20

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Pale straw gold in color, the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc is the sum of three distinct parts.  At first, bold citrus and tropical notes dominate: Meyer lemon, grapefruit, lychee, honeydew melon, pineapple and kiwi.  Secondary notes balance the fruit with lemongrass, clover and a hint of sweet ginger.  Tertiary flavors of wet rock, shortbread and vanilla round the palette and draw the juicy tropical notes through the finish.  The bright acidity brings focus to the lush citrus and ripe fruit notes while finishing with bright key lime and stony minerality. 

With a long, cool growing season, the cool climate of the Russian River Valley keeps wines crisp while allowing the natural character of the climate to shine through.   The picturesque Crinella Marino vineyard is located in one of the warmer areas of the Russian River Valley and experiences less rain and weather challenges than many other sites in the region.
 
The grapes offer a combination of a sophisticated Sancerre of the Loire Valley and the grassier New Zealand selections.  This is a California wine for a Sauvignon Blanc enthusiast.

2014 Troon Blue Label Longue Carabine, Applegate Valley - Wine of the Day

2014 Troon Blue Label Longue Carabine, Applegate Valley

$29

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A creative co-ferment of grapes native to the South of France:Marsanne 43.81%, Viognier 27.35%, Vermentino 12.65%, Riesling 8.79%, Roussanne 5.0%, Sauvignon  Blanc 2.4%; farmed to savor the natural attributes of granitic soils, washed down the mountains covered in Madrone, Oak and Ponderosa pine.  Full bodied and exotic, this is a substantial wine, but it’s still balanced with the bracing acidity you would expect from Oregon. The aromas and flavors are laced with hints of honeysuckle and ripe peaches.  An ideal match for roast chicken, veal and cheeses.  For those that love the exotic, lush and complex white blend of the southern Rhône Valley will adore Longue Carabine.

Northern Sonoma - Wine Region of the Day

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Northern Sonoma received its designation as an AVA in 1990. Situated over 329,000 acres, Northern Sonoma is home to sub-appellations Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Coast.  It is the second largest appellation within Sonoma County.  It contains myriad elevations, soil types and climates.  It was designated, in large part to allow the term, "Estate" to be applied to vintages from large producers like Gallo and Rodney Strong but is home to some small producers as well.  The primary grape produced in this area is Cabernet Sauvignon but Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel are grown here as well.

Salado Creek - Wine Region of the Day

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Salado Creek received its designation as an AVA in 2004. Situated on 2,940 acres, the region is located in northern Stanislaus County, California, near the town of Patterson. The creek as well as many other geographic features in the area were named by Spanish explorer, Gabriel Moraga who explored the San Joaquin Valley from 1806-1811.

The wine region lies at the eastern base of the Diablo Mountains at the western edge of the valley.  Salado Creeks flows from the mountains and crosses the California Aqueduct and the Delta-Mendota Canal eventually ending in the San Joaquin River. The viticultural area is part of the flat, flood plain from Salado Creek and its tributaries and is made of the heavier alluvium.

The soil in the region is an alluvial fan of clay and sandy loam which come from shale and sandstone parent materials. These Ensalado soils are well draining and deep which forces the vines to dig deep, strong roots in search of water. This process forces the vines to concentrate their efforts into the fruit, making a deep, robust flavor.

The region is protected from marine air by the Diablo Mountains and exist in a “thermal belt” at the edge of the larger San Joaquin Valley making this belt zone the only places where citrus grows in the San Joaquin Valley. The climate of Salado Creek has warmer cool season temperatures but consistent cooling breezes do flow from the north making its warm season cooler than the rest of the valley. Salado Creek is known for its production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Viognier.

2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc - Wine of the Day

2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc

$35

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The fruit for the 2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Las Cerezas Vineyard in Napa Valley's Yountville viticultural area.  Aged 12 months in 80% new French Oak, this wine maintains a crisp acidic edge with a medium body. With fruit flavors of green apple and passion fruit, and a flowery peach nose, our Sauvignon Blanc is perfect for your afternoon picnic. Best served with grilled fish or white meats especially if prepared with a creamy sauce with spring vegetables.  

Howell Mountain - Wine of the Day

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Howell Mountain received its designation as an AVA in 1983, and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Howell Mountain is located on 14,000 acres in the Vaca Range on the northeast side of Napa Valley. Most vineyards on the Howell Mountain are planted between 1,400 feet and 2,200 feet placing them above the fog and cool winds from San Pablo Bay. The soil in the appellation is volcanic with good drainage, causing the vines to struggle and place all of their efforts into the fruit. The region is known for Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel.

2009 Petrified Forest Vineyards Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

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 2009 Petrified Forest Vineyards Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

$39

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"Wonderful floral aromas give way to flavors of pineapple, apricots, and citrus.  Its clean, crisp finish and just the right amount of sweetness make this wine the perfect accompaniment to both sweet and savory food pairings."  Baci Cafe & Wine Bar (2012).

Late harvest wines have always captivated our imagination. When we purchased our property in Knights Valley in 1987, the existing Sauvignon blanc vineyard surprised us with an area that provided the necessary conditions for botrytis cinerea each harvest. This “noble rot” has allowed us to coax an amazingly complex wine from our tiny hillside vineyard. Once only produced for family and close friends, we can now share the fruit of our passion with you.

2014 Petrified Forest Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc - Wine Region of the Day

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2014 Petrified Forest Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

$23

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The 2014 Vintage was warm and sunny from April on. That compounded with almost no rain contributed to early ripening and concentrated fruit. Reds will benefit from some bottle age and cellar well, this white wine is drinking beautifully right now.

Pale yellow with a tinge of green, gooseberry , melon rind on the nose with a touch of Serrano pepper. The palate is lively with vibrant acidity and finishes seamlessly with flavors of kiwi and lime zest

2014 Troon Blue Label Longue Carabine, Applegate Valley - Wine of the Day

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2014 Troon Blue Label Longue Carabine, Applegate Valley

$29

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A creative co-ferment of grapes native to the South of France: Marsanne 43.81%, Viognier 27.35%, Vermentino 12.65%, Riesling 8.79%, Roussanne 5.0%, Sauvignon Blanc 2.4%; farmed to savor the natural attributes of granitic soils, washed down the mountains covered in Madrone, Oak and Ponderosa pine.  Full bodied and exotic, this is a substantial wine, but it’s still balanced with the bracing acidity you would expect from Oregon. The aromas and flavors are laced with hints of honeysuckle and ripe peaches.  An ideal match for roast chicken, veal and cheeses.  For those that love the exotic, lush and complex white blend of the southern Rhône Valley will adore Longue Carabine.

San Antonio Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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San Antonio Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

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The San Antonio Valley received its designation as an AVA in 2006. The San Antonio Valley is located in Monterey County and is bordered to the west by the Santa Lucia Mountains. The soil is primarily gravely loam and clay. The climate is typically warm and dry but benefits from the cooling breezes of nearby Lake San Antonio and the Pacific Ocean. The region is known for its production of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel.