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Wine Varietals You May Not Know🍷
By: Isabella Peregrina
Wine is an incredibly diverse and complex beverage, with thousands of different varietals around the world. From the well-known Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to the more obscure varietals, there are endless possibilities for wine fans to explore. In this article, we will be looking at some of the lesser-known wine varietals that may not be as popular yet, but deserve a spot in your next tasting. We’ll discuss what makes them unique, their flavors, and their aromas. So let’s dive into some of the most interesting and obscure wine varietals out there!
Khorasan Red Wi Varietal: Located in the eastern part of Asia, this grape varietal is one that has recently been gaining popularity among vintners. It is known for producing wines with fresh acidity and fruit tones and flavors such as cherry and raspberry. It’s best served young (nebbiolo is usually appropriate).
Piedirosso: This red grape varietal has been used to make wines in Italy for centuries. It does well with both rosé and red wines, but it is best known for its elegant, slightly spicy notes.
Tramonto: This grape varietal is very popular in Italy and is traditionally used to make red, rosé, and white wines.
Chinato: Chinato is a wine grape varietal from Italy’s Campania region. It has a high amount of tannins, which means it has astringent and bitter flavors according to the Wine Enthusiast. The fruit is also very dry which makes it perfect for aging in oak barrels or amphorae. Chinato is commonly made into dessert wines, like Moscato and Moscato d’Asti.
Amber: This varietal is a grape that’s typically found in the regions of Alsace and Germany. Unlike most wines, amber is made with darker grapes such as Riesling. An amber wine will be a deep ruby red in color and have an intense, nutty character that lingers on the palate. The best examples of this type are made by Amorim, Domaine Weinbach or Moet et Chandon.
Angelica: Angelica is a white wine grape variety that is grown mostly in the United States, but has been found in a few other states. It is one of the oldest known grape varieties in the world, with evidence of it being cultivated as far back as 2000 BC. The grapes are small and bunched together on long vines with thick leaves. They are typically harvested during late spring or early summer. Angelica wines can be dry, semi-dry or sweet and range from dry to off-dry with alcohol contents around 12%. Flavors range from citrus to apricot, honeydew melon and blackberry.
Riesling: Riesling is a wine grape variety grown primarily in Germany and California, with some also coming from France and Australia. Its name means “grape of Reims”, where it was first cultivated in the Middle Ages according to legend. It currently produces wines that are typically dry, medium-sweet or sweet, with a delicate fruity aroma with hints of honeydew melon and peach blossom.
Schioppettino: Schioppettino is an Italian varietal that typically comes from Friuli. It is either a light-bodied wine, or an iced dessert wine. It is typically dry, with a distinct aroma of honey, raisins and orange blossom.
Moscato Rosso di Montepulciano: This wine is also known as Moscatos in Italy. It is classified as a “still white” wine and typically comes from the province of Pongi in central-western Italy’s Tuscany region . It is predominantly white with a light pinkish-red color. The wine is made from Moscato di Montepulciano and Moscato d’Asti grapes.
Gewurztraminer: This aroma-driven wine is made in many countries, including Austria, Australia and the United States. In Germany, the name is spelled “Gewürtztraminer.” The name comes from the German word for “spice,” which refers to its aromatic content. The grape variety used is Traminer (also known as Alster-Traminer) and it has been a vine since 1867. Gewurztraminer is a medium to full-bodied wine that generally has a floral aroma, with hints of strawberries and honey.
What To Drink In 2023🍷
By: Isabella Peregrina
In 2023, wine lovers around the world will be looking for new and exciting varietals to try. With the increasing popularity of boutique wineries and a greater focus on sustainability, there is sure to be an abundance of new and interesting wines available. This article will explore some of the most popular wine varietals that are expected to be in high demand in 2023. We’ll look at their flavor profiles, food pairings, and regions of origin to help you decide which ones you should try next time you shop for wine.
1. Pinot Noir
The most popular red wine varietal in the world is Pinot Noir. This grape is often associated with Burgundy, but it originates from the Champagne region of France, where it was planted in the 17th century. Pinot noir has a prominent taste of cherry and strawberry with hints of minerals and black tea. Many people say it has a fruity aroma and medium-bodied flavor with hints of smoke, iron, chocolate, tobacco, rose petals or black raspberry. The tannins are light giving this wine a smooth finish that pairs well with chicken or fatty cuts like steak or pork chops. Most notable producers of Pinot Noir include Bordeaux, California, Oregon and Australia, among others.
2. Syrah
Syrah is a pink-colored grape that originated in the Rhone region of France and was first made into wine in the 18th century. This varietal has a robust flavor and rich, dark cherry-berry flavor profile with hints of spice, vanilla, chocolate and pepper. As red wines go, Syrah is considered to be more full-bodied than Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon. It pairs well with sautéed peppers or spicy foods such as jerk chicken. Most notable producers of Syrah include California, Australia and South Africa.
3. Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep ruby-colored grape that originated in France and was first made into wine in the early 18th century. This varietal has a rich, full-bodied flavor profile with hints of oak and chocolate but also has a spicy finish. As red wines go, Cabernet Sauvignon is considered to be more full-bodied than Syrah or Pinot Noir. It pairs well with barbecued meats such as jerked chicken or ribs as well as dark chocolate desserts such as ganache cake.
4. Merlot
Merlot is a deep, reddish-purple wine grape variety with origins in France and Italy. It produces bold flavors of plum, black cherry and raspberry that pair well with hearty red meats such as beef stew or braised pork shoulder. It’s also a great wine to make at home if you’re looking for something fruity to drink during the summertime.
5. Champagne
The sparkle and bubbles that make champagne such a popular option come from the natural carbonation of the wine. Champagne is typically made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or a blend of both varietals. Best served chilled to complement its effervescence, champagne is typically sipped with oysters or smoked salmon followed by a light dish like fish and chips.
Want to try some of the best iterations of these varietals the Wine Country has to offer? Book your tour with us today!
All About Mendocino🍷
By: Isabella Peregrina
The Mendocino County wine region is an appellation that designates wine made from grapes grown mostly in Mendocino County, California. The region is part of the larger North Coast AVA and one of California’s largest and most climatically diverse wine growing regions. Mendocino County is one of the northernmost commercial wine grape regions and has twelve American Viticultural Areas: Anderson Valley AVA, Cole Ranch AVA, Covelo AVA, Dos Rios AVA, Eagle Peak Mendocino County AVA, McDowell Valley AVA, Mendocino AVA, Mendocino Ridge AVA, Pine Mountain – Cloverdale Peak AVA, Potter Valley AVA, Redwood Valley AVA and Yorkville Highlands AVA.
Mendocino is also one of the leading wine growing regions for organically produced wine grapes. Nearly 25% of the acreage in Mendocino County is grown organically. In 2004, the residents of the county voted to become the first GMO-free county in the United States in an initiative that was supported by many of the county’s largest wineries. The county’s widespread focus on organic viticulture has inspired journalists to describe it as “California’s organic wine Mecca”.
The first vineyards in Mendocino were established in the 1850s in the Redwood Valley by returning farmers who failed to find their wealth and prosperity during the California Gold Rush. Most of these winery operations stayed small and were completely eradicated by the enactment of Prohibition in the United States in the early 20th century. With the commercial production of wine banned, vineyards were ripped out and replaced with tree nut and fruit orchards.
The oldest continually operating commercial winery in Mendocino County is Parducci Wines founded in 1931 while Prohibition was still in place. Parducci remained the only commercial winery in Mendocino until the late 1960s. In 1968, Fetzer Vineyards was founded and would eventually grow to be the largest wine producers in the county. Fetzer would also become a leader in steering the viticultural practices of the county towards more sustainable agriculture and organic wine production.
More about Mendocino’s AVA’s
Anderson Valley and Mendocino Ridge
As we mentioned in our previous post about the Anderson Valley, it is one of California’s coolest wine growing regions in the state being deeply influenced by the cool Pacific fog coming in off the coast. Early plantings of Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Noir in the 1960s and 1970s led to the formation of a handful of wineries by 1980. The potential for sparkling wine production became apparent in the 1980s when Champagne house Louis Roederer selected Anderson Valley for its California operation Roederer Estate. The Champagne firm scouted California extensively for years trying to find a region with the most climatic similarities to the Champagne region of France. Pinot Noir – grown for both sparkling and still wine production – is the dominant varietal for the region. A 2015 vineyard census determined that 87 of 91 vineyard properties in the region grow Pinot Noir.
The area around the cities of Philo and Navarro, California in the center and north end of the valley receive considerably more cooling fog influence than the plantings closer to Boonville in the south. Despite being called a “valley”, very few vineyards are planted on flat land. Much of the Anderson Valley is planted on a series of steep hills. On the mountain ridges above the valley, the cooling influence of the fog can not quite reach the vineyards planted at these elevations. The direct exposure to the sun gives these isolated patches of vineyards more warmth which contributes to the spicy, berry notes of the Zinfandels produced in this part of the Anderson Valley. While some of these vineyards are still part of the Anderson Valley, many were siphoned off into the boundaries of the Mendocino Ridge AVA when it was established in 1997. As a series of disparate mountain ridges, the Mendocino Ridge was the first non-contiguous AVA established in California.
Redwood, Potter and McDowell Valleys
The Redwood and Potter Valleys face each other on the west and east, respectively, just north of Lake Mendocino in the far eastern reaches of Mendocino County. The areas include heavily wooded terrain with the name Redwood Valley coming from the legends of redwood trees growing so densely packed that they blotted out the sky. In the southern reaches of Redwood Valley is the Ricetti bench, a fluvial terrace the features crimson red soil, where Mendocino County’s first vineyards were planted. Today the Redwood Valley is known for its peppery, spicy Zinfandels. The Redwood Valley is slightly cooler than the vineyard plantings to the south towards Ukiah, allowing the area to produce wines with more acidity and deeper color. Many of the grapes grown in the Potter Valley AVA are blended and sold under the more widely recognizable Mendocino AVA. In the 21st century, Potter Valley has developed a reputation for white grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc as well as Pinot noir from its pockets of cooler microclimates. In 2014, the area west of the Redwood and Potter Valley AVAs was designated the Eagle Peak Mendocino County AVA.
The McDowell Valley is located at the southeastern end of Mendocino County on a sloping plateau east of Hopland. Most of the soil is unsuitable for viticulture, with the most favorable areas confined to croppings of gravelly-loam soils that are surrounded by the nearby Mayacamas Mountains. The McDowell Valley is known for its Rhone-style wines and features 100+ year old vines of Grenache and Syrah. This includes some of the oldest Syrah plantings in California, dating back to 1913. In addition to producing still red wines, the wineries of the McDowell Valley are also noted for their dry rosés.
The Mendocino County region harvests, on average, around 62,000 tons of grapes-representing about 2% of California’s yearly crush. Chardonnay is the county’s leading planting with about 4,800 acres (1,900 hectares) followed by Cabernet Sauvignon with 2,860 acres (1,160 hectares) and Pinot noir with 2,695 acres (1,091 hectares). In addition Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Carignane, Charbono, Chenin blanc, Gewürztraminer, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot blanc, Riesling, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Tocai Friulano, Viognier and Zinfandel are grown in Mendocino County.
Want to visit Mendocino for yourself? Book your tour with us today!
We want you to know about Anderson Valley!
By: Isabella Peregrina
Anderson Valley is located in the coastal hills of Mendocino County, 110 miles northwest of San Francisco. While only fifteen miles long, this abundant valley is home to a stellar group of vineyards and wineries producing a range of ultra-premium wines including world-class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Alsace Varietals (Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris).
One of the defining characteristics of Anderson Valley is its ability to stay cool. In fact, it is the coolest wine-growing region in California. In addition to its climate, the soil in this region greatly benefits from wild flora native to coastal Mendocino.
There’s a reason multiple of our tours focus on this region. Anderson Valley is quickly becoming the place to be for fabulous wine.
You don’t even have to take our word for it! How about listening to the folks at Wine Enthusiast. They wrote a deeply informative and interesting article on the Anderson Valley for their recent June/July 2022 issue titled, “Introducing Anderson Valley, California’s Hidden Hillside Beauty of Pinot Noir.”
Or maybe you trust the Wall Street Journal who proclaimed back in May of this year, “If you want to travel back to a time when it was easy and cheap to taste good California wine, I have some advice: Go to Anderson Valley.” Their article, “Top Wine Travel: Outstanding Value and Pinot Noir in California’s Anderson Valley”, outlines everything from the region’s best hotels, to restaurants, and of course, wineries.
Courtesy of our friends at the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association, take a look at this brief timeline below for more history on the region:
1851 – Anderson Valley Was Settled: Walter Anderson lends the valley his name by settling his family near what is now Boonville.
1894 – Vineyards Were Planted: Italian immigrants arrive and plant vineyards.
1911 – First Winery Was Established: First bonded winery (according to legend).
1946 – Commercial Winegrowing Began: Beginning of commercial winegrowing.
1960’s – More Wineries Were Founded: Edmeades and Husch wineries founded; plantings mostly Gewürztraminer and Chardonnay.
1970’s – Pinot Noir Comes To Anderson Valley: Husch plants the Knoll Vineyard in 1971. Navarro Vineyards, Lazy Creek Vineyard and Greenwood Ridge Vineyard founded; Pinot Noir gains a toehold.
1980’s – Introduction Of Sparkling Wines: 1981 Scharffenberger Cellars, 1983 Handley Cellars, 1984 Navarro Vineyards, and 1988 Roederer Estate sparkling wines were released, primarily from Chardonnay (and some Pinot Noir). Handley was the first from AV grapes.
1982 – AVA Petition Initiated: Petition for American Viticultural Area (AVA) status lists 6 wineries, 16 vineyards, and 582 acres under vine.
1990’s – Superior Grape Vintages: Wineries and winemakers outside the valley discover its great fruit and low prices.
1997 – First Pinot Noir Festival: Inaugural Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival.
2000’s – Anderson Valley Modernizes Wine Production: Quality revolution driven by new planting and replanting by trained viticulturists, more sophistication among internationally-minded winemakers.
2005 – First White Wine Festival: Inaugural International Alsace Varietals Festival (now Winter White Wine Festival).
2006 – First Pinot Noir Tasting: First comprehensive tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir includes 43 wines from 30 producers.
2006 – Vineyard Milestone: More than 2000 acres are now under vine.
2020 to Present – AVWA Continues Growth: AVWA membership reaches 22 vineyards and 54 producers.
Want to visit Anderson Valley for yourself? Book your tour with us today!
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