Winemaker Notes
For a delicious pairing, serve this wine with shellfish, ceviche sashimi or a spicy tuna roll and shishito peppers.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is an exuberant but well-balanced medium-bodied wine, with fresh apple and lime aromas and a tangy yet layered texture. The two varieties weave together nicely, presenting the rich aspect of Viognier and the crisp, lively aspect of Chenin Blanc.
Editors' Choice -
Wine Spectator
Lip-smacking, lively and full of personality, with melon and peach flavors accenting pops of candied ginger, fresh chamomile blossom and mandarin orange. Extremely charming and even more refreshing.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
The vineyards just inland from the Sacramento River Delta, along the deep banks of the Sacramento River, comprise the Clarksburg AVA. The River Delta channels in cold air and fog from the Pacific Ocean creating a cooling effect in this area. Warm summer days quickly change to chilly evenings and make a great environment for grape growing. While a range of grape varieties grow here, Chenin blanc stands out the most, distinguishing itself in the appellation.
The Clarksburg Wine Growers and Vintners Association, made up of nearly 50 grower members and over a dozen wineries, has been working since the late 1980s to promote the high quality wine of its region.