CA’s Old Vineyard Heroes
Long before the era of high-end California Cabs and Chard (and more lately Pinot Noir), there were lots and lots of other wine grapes grown in the Golden State.
Prior to Prohibition (1920-1933) gutting America’s wine traditions, many growers planted Zinfandel alongside dozens of other Old-World grapes in vineyards that added character and complexity to the final “field blend” that was all fermented together. In such a way – one variety could add power, another (sometimes white) could add acidity, another aromas, spice and so on.
These hand-worked head-trained vineyards, of course, varied from year to year – without the use of modern technology.
Today, making wines from what’s left of these antique vineyards is exciting stuff.
Tegan Passalacqua (left) with Morgan Twain-Peterson in the 19th-century Nervo vineyard south of Geyserville (Sonoma Co.)
On my recent trip to California, I caught up with two important players in the movement to preserve old (Pre-Prohibition) vineyards and make delicious field blends: Tegan Passalacqua winemaker at Napa-based Turley and his own Sandlands label, and Morgan Twain-Peterson of Sonoma-based Bedrock Wine Co.
Beyond the romance of preservation, their wines changed how I think about California wine and its great potential.
To learn more, read my latest Robert Camuto Meets at winespectator.com