It starts with the grape

For the past three vintages Sonoma has had almost perfect grape growing weather. Even though the drought is concerning, Mother Nature has blessed us with perfect temperatures during our growing season April to October. Hopefully Vintage 2015 will make it four in a row.

So what makes Sonoma wines so great?

Most of us have heard the saying, “You can make a bad wine from great grapes, but you can’t make a great wine from bad grapes.” This is so true. One thing that makes the wine industry in Sonoma so special and unique is that we nurture our main ingredient, the grape.

From the beginning of the growing season to the final product it is a team effort between the winemaker and the vineyard personnel to grow the perfect wine. Making hand crafted wine is more than an industry, it is an art. Sonoma has a climate that friendly to many different varieties, and all of high quality.

Before a vineyard is created there is a lot of thought about what types of grapes will be planted (variety, clone and rootstock) that will produce the highest quality of grapes for that site. There are many other factors like row direction and the trellising system which allow the proper sunlight to enter the fruit zone.

Our vineyards range from the flats of the valley to the higher elevations of the Mayacamas Range and Sonoma Mountain. Most people see the vineyards when they come to the wine country, but what makes us special is the individual vineyard. Each vineyard has its own terroir which produces unique flavors that are captured in the final product, the glass of wine.

The bond between the vineyard and the winemaker during the growing season helps in the decision process of how to encourage the plant to produce the perfect grape. There are many styles of winemaking in our valley and the communication from the beginning to the end produces fruit that can create that style.

Sonoma has reached international fame by growing and producing some of the finest wines in the world. So when asked the question why are Sonoma’s wines so great. The answer is, “We start with perfect grapes.”