Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc - Viognier 2016
- WW
Winemaker Notes
Chenin Blanc has long been the core of this blend and is sourced from the Clarksburg appellation close to the nearby Sacramento River Delta. The Chenin Blanc grapes were harvested at low sugar levels to emphasize bright fruit characteristics in the finished wine. In contrast, the Viognier from Lodi was picked at higher sugar levels, to capture the floral and spicy nature as well as viscosity. After the grapes were crushed, the press wine was blended with the free run juice to increase palate weight. Each variety was inoculated with its own special yeast strain selected to maintain the fruity characters and then underwent a cool fermentation. To retain and highlight the fruit freshness of CB+V, the wine was fermented and aged in 100 percent stainless steel.
Pairs well with Grilled Swordfish, Mahi Mahi, Fried Clams, Sweet n' Sour Shrimp, Pad Thai and Curry Dishes.
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Pine Ridge Vineyards has been a leader in crafting iconic Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Stags Leap District since 1978. Our winery lies tucked beneath a ridge of pines, with a full view of the rugged outcropping of palisades that speak to the dramatic geologic origins of our home and its world-famous soils. Today, our estate vineyards span four additional appellations within Napa Valley — Howell Mountain, Oakville, Rutherford, and Carneros —and they are dedicated to producing powerful expressions of each distinct terroir.
Their winery and all of their estate vineyards are Napa Green Certified, with a fully customized conservation program for each site to encourage and protect biodiversity.
Responsible for the vast majority of American wine production, if California were a country, it would be the world’s fourth largest wine-producing nation. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of wine styles, and unlike tradition-bound Europe, experimentation is more than welcome here. Wineries range from tiny, family-owned boutiques to massive corporations, and price and production are equally varied. Plenty of inexpensive bulk wine is made in the Central Valley area, while Napa Valley is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious and expensive “cult” wines.
Each American Viticultural Area (AVA) and sub-AVA of has its own distinct personality, allowing California to produce wine of every fashion: from bone dry to unctuously sweet, still to sparkling, light and fresh to rich and full-bodied. In the Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate vineyard acreage. Sonoma County is best known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. The Central Coast has carved out a niche with Rhône Blends blends based on Grenache and Syrah, while Mendocino has found success with cool climate varieties such as Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. With all the diversity that California has to offer, any wine lover will find something to get excited about here.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. While most would agree it reigns supreme when from its birthplace of the Loire Valley, Chenin is the most planted variety in South Africa. California’s Clarksburg appellation is also winning more notoriety for its Chenin.
In the Glass
Chenin's drier versions commonly have characteristics of passion fruit, lemon, quince, green apple, saffron and chamomile while sweeter version express aromas and flavors such as yellow pear, white peach, persimmon, melon, ginger and honeysuckle. When aged in oak, qualities like meringue and brioche can be found. Sparkling versions often have yellow apple, ginger and floral notes.
Perfect Pairings
Cool-climate Chenin blanc has the chalky acidity to work with light seafood such as oysters and shellfish. Off-dry styles work well with the sweet-and-sour nature of Thai and Vietnamese food. The sparkling versions such as Saumur Mousseux, Vouvray Petillant and Crémant de Loire make amazing aperitif options that won’t bruise the pocketbook.
Sommelier Secret
South Africa actually has double the amount of Chenin blanc planted compared to France. It is believed that either the Dutch navigator, Jan van Riebeeck, brought the grape to Cape Town in 1655 or the Huguenots fleeing France brought it in 1685. Either way, the South Africans have favored it for many centuries and make it in almost every style. Today a new wave of dedicated producers has committed to restoring old Chenin vines and finding the most ideal new spots for this prized variety.
