Winemaker Notes
The second site, a new West County planting is just coming into production. Its arid, low-lying setting allows Gamay to develop a sun-kissed California character, balancing the precision of Barsotti. Together, these vineyards provided everything they needed for this year’s rosé.
The fruit was whole-cluster pressed to stainless steel for native yeast fermentation, then aged six months in neutral puncheons to preserve freshness. Aromas of white peach, wild blossoms, and zesty grapefruit lead to flavors of tangerine, honeydew, fresh strawberry, and a subtle touch of pink Himalayan salt on the finish.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.