This week's organic winery spotlight is on Bonterra Vineyards. Located in Ukiah, California, Bonterra was one of the first major vineyards in California to commit to growing grapes organically and to use sustainable practices in the vineyard.
Bonterra's decision to go organic came about when they were experimenting with wine and food pairings. All of the fruits, vegetables and herbs that were used in the pairings came from their extensive organic garden. The purity, intensity and freshness in the flavors of the fresh produce was amazing. They wanted that same purity, intensity and freshness in their wine grapes and because of this they made the commitment to grow their grapes organically.
Bonterra Vineyards is 378 acres of steep hills and rolling valleys in mountainous Mendocino County, California--dubbed Bonterra’s McNab Ranch. All of Bonterra's wine varietals strive to embody the character of the organically grown fruit--fruit which they believe results in unparalleled intensity of flavor.
Bonterra's current offerings:
Cabernet Sauvignon: Aged in French and American oak, the wine offers hints of pepper, cedar and fragrant vanilla spice to complement a lush and fruit-centered personality.
Merlot: Wonderfully dry, with compelling fruit and touches of herbs and light oak.
Syrah: Concentrated berry flavors come to the fore with notes of vanilla and toasty oak spice from aging in French oak.
Red Table : The inspiration for Bonterra’s Red Table Wine came from a limited-release red blend produced from the Biodynamic vineyards on McNab Ranch.
Zinfandel: Dependable Zin flavors of plum, blackberry jam and spicy black pepper.
Chardonnay: A hint of oak complements the freshness of fruit and the evident notes of green apple, pear and citrus.
Muscat: The combination of lower alcohol and bold acidity offers a refreshingly bold and somewhat unexpected brightness from this wine.
Roussanne: The bright character of the wine marries hints of honey from the Marsanne, ripe harvest peaches from the Viognier and acidity from the Roussanne grape, which imparts aromas of fresh Granny Smith apples and Bartlett pears.
Sauvignon Blanc: Intense aromas of grapefruit, kiwi and freshly cut grass mix with concentrated tropical aromas and a bright minerality.
Viognier: With the characteristics of Viognier’s native bouquet of peaches, gardenias and honeysuckle, Bonterra has blended in other varietals like Marsanne and Roussanne for added dimension and notes of apple and pear--resulting in a crisp yet creamy wine, with ripe stone fruit flavors.
Reserve Chardonnay: Quite dry, with aromas of lemon zest, creamy meringue, baked apple and peaches with a distinct mineral note enhanced by toasty vanilla and barrel spice.
White Table: A luscious white blend with a Chardonnay base and added traditional Rhone varietals: Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne...a little Muscat was added for complexity and layers of fruit.
Rosé: Wonderfully fruity, this refreshing wine is destined to surprise, possessing unexpected richness and a hint of spice. Flavors of cherry from the Sangiovese, raspberry and pepper from Zinfandel and a burst of bright alpine strawberry from Grenache to complete the experience.
The McNab Biodynamic Wine: In the biodynamic style, Bonterra approaches the land as a living self-contained ecosystem, responding to the cycles of the sun, moon and seasons in its care. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Old Vine Petite Sirah are blended in the Bordeaux style and aged in French oak. The result is a singular creation--the McNab.
Visit Bonterra either in person at 2231 McNab Ranch Road in Ukiah, CA or shop online by clicking here. Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment