Soleil 2022

Appellation:

Shenandoah Valley

Winemaker Notes:

Our Soleil is a Rhône-style blend of our estate Viognier and Roussanne. Viognier was harvested August 22, 2022, the first grapes of the season, at a Brix of 23.7 and pH 3.5. Roussanne harvested much later due to its location on a cooler lower block just in front of the tasting room, October 31, 2022 at a Brix of 22.3 and pH 3.6. Each was whole-cluster pressed immediately after harvest, cooled and fermented in egg-shaped Apollo Flextanks. The juice was inoculated with our chosen yeast to enhance flavors and aromas. These Apollo tanks have the advantage of creating a convection of gas going up along the edges of the tanks and rolling down the center that constantly stirs the juice and solids that normally would sit at the bottom to extract maximum flavors. No oak was added and the wines were kept separate and cold-stabilized outdoors for several weeks in our chilly winter temperatures, perfectly blended and bottled up early March 2023.

Vineyard Notes:

Our Viognier and Roussanne grow at our 2,000-foot elevation vineyards in granitic and volcanic clay loam soil in the Shenandoah Valley of the Sierra Foothills. Both are grafted on special drought-tolerant rootstock with the vines digging deep in this soil for natural water. The vines thrive in the warm daytime breezes from the Central Valley and cool Sierra evenings, a 30-degree swing in temperature, perfect for Rhône varietals