2016 Wine Grapes for Sale
Our Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard overlooking the Yakima Valley
It’s official. We’re contracted for 8000 pounds of Rattlesnake Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines are in their 7th year and sit at 1300 feet elevation in Columbia Valley’s most sought after AVA. Here the immense diurnal shift provides enough heat during the day to fully ripen Cab Sauv while still cooling down more than 40 degrees each night to preserve the fruit’s freshness and acidity. The soils are wind deposited glacial loess on top of Ellensburg formation cobbles. This is the Cab vineyard we’ve been dreaming about. More details forthcoming as the spectacular geology of Eastern Washington deserves it’s own post.
We’ll also go ahead and announce that the Clarksburg Chenin Blanc and Napa Valley Merlot will returning in 2016 as well. These should be available for sale as futures through the website before the start of the 2016 Winemaker Magazine Conference next week.
Frozen Grape Must for sale 2016 - SOLD OUT
Frozen Grape Juice for sale 2016 - SOLD OUT
Each pail includes five gallons of grape must. Product will arrive partially frozen.
Livermore Valley, California
Brix 25.7, pH 3.7, TA .59
Harvested October 11th, 2019
This vineyard site in the historic Southwestern corner of the Livermore Valley was part of the original Ruby Hill Winery planted in 1885 by John Crellin. The vineyard and winery remained operational through a series of owners and even through Prohibition. More recently the vineyard was leased and managed by Wente who replanted it to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese in 2000. The Ruby Hill District of Livermore sits at 800 feet elevation and consists mainly of fine, gravelly sand loam, and sedimentary silt loam soils. These soils are very well-draining and average over 50 inches deep. The area is slightly cooler than the rest of the valley and experiences later harvest and longer hang time.The climate of the Livermore Valley is almost exactly the same as that of the St. Helena and Calistoga in the Northern Napa Valley. Morning fog, cold nights, and winds coming off the Bay temper the hot days and allow the grapes to preserve acidity while still achieving ripeness. The Livermore Valley is California's only wine growing region with an East-West orientation.