Roussanne
Alder Springs Vineyard
MendocinoLocated over three hours north of San Francisco, Alder Springs relies on elevations as high as 2700 feet for a cooling effect. There's so much to say about this vineyard, but even more to say about the owner Stu Bewley – smart, nice and passionate about what he does. The vines are planted on steep hillsides of decomposing sandstone with a combination of Scott Henry and Smart Dyson trellising systems with vine density as much as 3300 vines per acre. The cooler temperatures allow the fruit to hang longer without sacrificing the naturally vibrant acidity levels. It's hard to contain our excitement about this vineyard because it represents a combination of people, site, viticulture practices and a track record with wineries we're honored to be sharing fruit with.
Saralee's Vineyard
Russian River ValleyTwo white varietals of France's northern Rhône, Marsanne and Roussanne have found surging popularity in California. Given the high demand for Rhône whites, it's extremely difficult to find top-quality fruit. The moderate temperatures and precision farming at this Russian River site make for a perfect match for these varietals. Planted in 2002 in well draining sandy-loam soils, Saralee's is a high density site, with vines spread just 4 feet apart. They're cropped to a single cluster per shoot, the same aggressive viticulture practices we use for the Russian River Viognier. For extra aromatics, we can blend in a bit of Viognier.
Westerly (McGinley) Vineyard
Santa Ynez ValleyWesterly Vineyard (now known as McGinley) was the first vineyard to plant grapes in Santa Ynez's Happy Canyon area back in 1995. Warm days are tempered by a nightly cooling maritime influence that pushes in from the coast to ensure a long growing season. Sitting at an elevation of 800 feet in well-draining sandy soils, the terraced site is perfect for Rhone varietals such as Syrah and Roussanne. The Roussanne's complex aromatics, lively acidity and depth show why it's the white wine for red wine lovers.
