Vineyard Mystery
Mystery Grapes
Both the winemaking and vineyard teams had a fun surprise waiting for them this harvest. White grapes were found growing in our new Syrah block. It seems that at the nursery, these mystery vines were accidentally mixed in with our Syrah vines that we planted in 2022. With this being the first crop of the vines’ life the vineyard team only now noticed the imposters this year after veraison had started and the real Syrah vines began to change color, exposing the fraudulent white grapes. After much speculation and a long wait, a DNA test revealed the vines’ heritage was that of Albillo Mayor, a grape that is primarily grown in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. The winemaking team decided to take advantage of this conundrum and get creative with the mystery white grape. Since the Syrah vines were only two years old and produced a small crop, they had to be handpicked. Considering the circumstances, the winemakers chose to do a co-ferment of the Syrah and the mystery white grape (note: the winemaking and vineyard team didn't know the variety until several weeks after it was harvested) and also decided to take advantage of the fact that they were handpicked by using a technique called cold carbonic fermentation.
Cold Carbonic Fermentation
Cold carbonic fermentation is where whole grapes and a small amount of juice are placed inside of a vessel, covered with CO[2] gas to displace the oxygen, and then completely sealed off. When done correctly, the whole berries begin to ferment intracellularly (inside of the whole intact berry), creating unique flavors and aromas that aren't commonly found in standard fermentation. Once the berries begin to burst due to fermentation, the wine is then pressed off immediately to prevent any skin contact from occurring. The result is a very fruity and sometimes floral wine that has light to medium color and body depending on the variety.
We are very excited to taste this wine!
Photographs by Curtis Corlew
Dec 21, 2023 at 7:13 AM
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Holiday Hours
We will be closed the following holidays so our staff can spend time celebrating with their friends and family. Please celebrate the New Year with us on Sunday, December 31!
Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 23, 2023
Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, 2023
Christmas, Monday, December 25, 2023
New Year's Day, Monday, January 1, 2024
Nov 17, 2023 at 10:29 PM
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Finger Lakes Series 2023
We're very excited to have John Nyquist's Finger Lakes 2023 watercolor series on display in our tasting room through November 13, 2023. These lovely paintings will remind you of the view from our deck or patio or from your own drives through the region, maybe your own backyard! We hope that you are able to come and view John's amazing work.
Oct 16, 2023 at 4:44 PM
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Atwater After Hours Closes for the Season on 10/8
This is the last weekend to enjoy Atwater After Hours from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday to Sunday at the Vista Bar and watch the sun set with wine by the glass or bottle, cocktails, mocktails, and small bites or boards! We hope to see you for a last hurrah!
Please note that our Atwater After Hours Singer-Songwriter Series will continue on Thursday nights through November 2.
Oct 5, 2023 at 3:28 PM
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