Viognier 2020

Appellation:

Shenandoah Valley

Winemaker Notes:

Our Viognier was harvested late August, the first grapes to come in off the estate. They were picked cool early morning off the field then immediately whole cluster pressed using a gentle bladder press, chilled to allow solids to settle, then cold fermented over 3 weeks in egg-shaped “Apollo” Flextanks. 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 lees solids that normally would sit at the bottom to extract maximum flavors. No oak was added and no secondary ML fermentation for a crisp fruit-forward style.

Vineyard Notes:

Our Estate Viognier grows on a steep hillside at 2,000-foot elevation in the granitic and volcanic soil of our vineyard estate in the Shenandoah Valley of the Sierra Foothills. It is grafted on special drought-tolerant rootstock which allows it to dig deep in this soil for natural water. It thrives in the warm daytime breezes from the Central Valley and cool Sierra evenings, a 30-degree swing in temperature, a climate similar to that of Northern Rhône.