Wind Gap Sceales Grenache 2012
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We've combed the state to gather a collection of some of the moste exciting vineyards for producing the kinds of grapes we love - Cabernet from Coombsville in south Napa, Chardonnay from the dramatic limestone and granit of Chalone, Grenache from the Shale and Limestone blanketed hills of western Paso Robles, and Syrah from the windy and cold Sonoma Coast. Along the way, we've been lucky enough to meet and work along with like-minded growers who embrace the discerning farming practices we belive in.
Interestingly enough, many of our vineyards are planted along or are directly influenced by one wind gap or another. These geological breaks in the coastal hill funnel wind inland and strongly influence the growing and ripening fo our grapes. It seemed only fitting to us that our name should celebrate the forces of nature that are shaping our wine.
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.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.