September Wine of the Month: Celebrating California

Every day in California is a celebration of viticulture. The Golden State is the fourth leading wine producer in the world, after Italy, France, and Spain, and responsible for 85% of all US wine production. There are 5,900 wine grape growers and 4,200 bonded wineries across 138 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in the state, from the tiny Seiad Valley just south of the Oregon border to the sprawling South Coast AVA that reaches all the way to Mexico. Altogether, California farms 635,000 acres of vines, planted to 110 different varietals, that yield almost 4 million tons of grapes annually (1 ton = 63 cases of finished wine.) But September is specifically designated as California Wine Month, and with good reason - it falls right in the middle of harvest. From August to November, local wine labor is an all-hands-on-deck feat of almost ceaseless grape picking, sorting and crushing. It is the culmination of the previous year’s painstaking cultivation, and the foundation on which the entire industry - from distribution to retail and hospitality - rests. Our two wines this month are both outstanding realizations of California harvests’ past; they are a great excuse to raise a glass to the immense collective effort of the moment, and to the promise of future toasts it represents. 

In the last 20 years, arguably no wine region has experienced a wine boom like that of Paso Robles. In 2000, this once sleepy farming area halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles had 100 bonded wineries and 15,000 acres planted to grapes. Today it has over 270 wineries, with 32,500 acres of grapes. It is a large, diverse appellation located within northern San Luis Obispo County, just six miles from the Pacific Ocean, comprising a number of distinctive grape-growing regions. There are over 45 soil types found in the Paso Robles AVA, primarily bedrock-derived soils from weathered granite, older marine sedimentary rocks, and volcanic rocks. There are also younger marine sedimentary rocks of the Monterey Formation from the Miocene Age, composed of calcareous shale, sandstone, or mudstone. Caliza (“limestone” in Spanish) is an exemplary Paso Robles winery: founded in 2005 by Carl Bowker it occupies 28 organically farmed hillside acres planted in 24 unique blocks to a host of Rhone varietals. The End of the Day Cuvee is a special blend made in tribute to the vineyard workers at Caliza and elsewhere; full, lush and layered, its quality is a testament to the skill and dedication of the men and women who inspired it.

With one exception, coastal mountain ranges from Alaska down to the tip of South America run north/south to parallel their nearby shorelines. The exception is in Santa Barbara County, California, where the Santa Ynez Mountains break this rule, and open up to run east/west for about 40 miles. This east/west gap funnels cool air from the coast up to the foothills at the base of Figueroa Mountain every morning and late afternoon, but allows for enough mid-day sun to ripen wine grapes perfectly. Santa Barbara County’s diverse range of climates and soils supports seven AVAs: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District, Happy Canyon, and Alisos Canyon. The Brick Barn winery is located on 35 acres at the western edge of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, Santa Barbara’s largest, near the town of Buellton. Just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean, it is uniquely situated between the warmer inland areas of the valley and the cooler environs of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. There are 9 varietals planted in total, including Viognier, whose vivid aromatics and vibrant acidity benefit from this confluence of sandy riverbed soils and maritime breezes.

Cheers,

The PlumpJack Wine Team