Viognier 2024

Appellation:

Shenandoah Valley

Winemaker Notes:

Our Viognier was harvested by hand in late August, the first estate grapes to be harvested. Picked cool in early morning off the field, then immediately whole-cluster pressed using a gentle bladder press, chilled to allow solids to settle, cold fermented over 3 weeks in egg-shaped “Apollo” Flextanks. Apollos have the advantage of creating a convection of gas going up along the inside edges, rolling down the center that constantly stirs the juice and lees solids that normally would sit at the bottom, allowing maximum flavor extraction. 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 forces 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.