Haut Brion Sale Click HereFrom Our Latest Email |
Sierra Madre Chardonnay 2007 Santa Maria Valley AVA Sold In Annapolis at $39.99 Mills' Sale Price $21.99
Sierra Madre Pinot Noir 2007 Santa Maria Valley AVA Sold In Annapolis at $49.99 Mills' Sale Price $29.99
I first met Sara Brewer in Washington DC at the Four Ways Restaurant in 1985 when she became Bar Manager. Its been close to twenty years since I've seen her. I was shocked and delighted to find out that she was living in California and working as national Sales Manager of Sierra Madre Vineyards. We invited her to Annapolis, and made a great deal on these two exceptional California Wines. Please take a few moments and look through the following information she sent us on these wines. We will finally have them in the store on Wednesday of this week. NOTE: there isn't a lot of this wine to be had! - PF Terroir The Santa Maria Valley is an exceptionally cool growing region, due to its rare east-west valley geography which provides a direct influence from the Pacific Ocean. Sierra Madre Vineyard is the most northern and one of the westernmost vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley, only 15 miles from the coast, and benefits greatly from its unique marine influence. As its proximity to the ocean dictates, the soils of Sierra Madre Vineyards are marine by nature, and made up of sandy to sandy-loam textures. Soil vigor is low, which contributes to to extensive root development, lower yields, and concentrated fruit. Two types of loam soils exist here: Gary Sandy Loam and Pleasonton Sandy Loam. Both are well-drained and low in organic material. History The Sierra Madre property, one of the oldest in the Santa Maria Valley, was first planted in 1971. In 1975, Dale Hampton took over management and eventually puchased the property with partners. With considerable demand for Santa Maria fruit coming from the larger growing regions, Hampton wanted to ensure that San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County vintners would be assured of this fine local resource for their wines. In the early 1980s, wine critics began to take notice. Noted wine writer Mike Stepanovich called Sierra Madre Vineyards "one of the state's - make that the nation's - best Pinot Noir vineyards," citing consecutive awards for Sanford Winery, Byron Vineyard & Winery, and Wild Horse Winery for "Best American Pinot Noir," all from Sierra Madre fruit. In 1996, Mondavi purchased the property and replanted the vineyard under Byron winemaker Ken Brown's auspices. Brown planted using a multitude of rootstock and clone combinations, so as to offer Byron a variety of choices, as well as the opportunity for great complexity of blends. This planting experiment is an important milestone in Sierra Madre's history, as the outcome is a rich component in its terroir. In early 2003, strawberry grower Doug Circle purchased 500 acres of Sierra Madre Vineyard from Mondavi, with a plan to reintroduce the site to a multitude of great winemakers. Since then, winery clients have included a veritable "who's who" of Central Coast wineries, many of whom have or will be producing Sierra Madre vineyard designated wines. This prescious parcel is in good hands with Circle. His more than 30 years in agriculture, in both farming and business, uniquely qualifies him to be the next shepherd for Sierra Madre Vineyard. In partnership with the highly respected Mesa Vineyard Management Company, he is constantly researching, learning, and implementing new farming techniques to guide this very special vineyard to new heights. |
