Stephen Ross Jespersen Ranch Grenache 2013
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Stephen Ross Dooley is the founder, winemaker and, along with his wife, Paula, the owner of Stephen Ross Wine Cellars. Stephen started the winery in 1994 in San Luis Obispo, California where he and his crew also make the Flying Cloud line of wines. Steve is a UC Davis Enology graduate with extensive winemaking experience gained in 10 years spent at Napa Valley’s Louis Martini Winery and seven years at the Chalone Wine Group’s eponymous Edna Valley Vineyard. In his early years, Stephen also served winemaking stints in Australia and South Africa. His passion for winemaking began as a teen in the basement of his mother’s house in the Minnesota River valley, fermenting all kinds of fruit. Decades later, his passion for the artistry, science and focus required for premium grape growing and winemaking continues. Along with his own estate fruit, his commitment to sourcing the best fruit and making the best wines possible never wanes and has established him as an icon on California’s Central Coast.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
California’s coolest wine growing area, Edna Valley excels in the production of high quality Central Coast wines like Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Rhône Blends and aromatic white wines. It has a cool Mediterranean climate and an incredibly long growing season, giving late-ripening varieties plenty of opportunity to develop great phenolic complexity.
Its northwest to southeast orientation creates a direct path for cool Pacific air and fog to penetrate the valley from the Los Osos and Morro Bay area inwards. Low hillsides of both calcareous and volcanic soils are home to much of the vineyard acreage of the Edna Valley.