Nice article in today’s NYTimes:
New Calif Winemakers
on some new Calif wineries/winemakers he has recently discovered:
Amevive
Emme
Florez Wines
Gail Wines
Iruai
Margins
Matt Crutchfield Wines
Minus Tide
Outward
Terah Wine Company
I can say that for only a few of these wines, I have followed them from the very start.
I’ve become a slacker.
Tom
Amevive and Outward are making some of my favorite wines now (along with Scar of the Sea and Lady of the Sunshine)
https://archive.is/f3tyF please
A lot of great wines in this article.
i’ve really liked Iruai for quite a while. especially their bloom phase
They share a tasting room with Goldback wines in the small but vibrant town of Talent OR. (Much of the town was burned to the ground five years ago but it has since risen).
Until this article, I didn’t know anybody was growing grapes up by Shasta!?!
Can anybody tell me more?
Vineyard locations, grape types, acreage?
It looks like this folks are pushing ‘marginal’ beyond the margins. Good for them!
Briceland and Cabot are up there in Humbolt
Clicked through all of those sites and must say most of those wines sound pretty compelling. Agree the Iruai stuff sounds wild.
Hope the article helps them all sell some bottles.
I’ve loved just about every wine I’ve tried from Margins, Matt Crutchfield, and Terah! And though I haven’t tried as many from Emme, Florez, and Iruai, I’ve enjoyed their wines too. I’ve heard of the others and have probably tried a couple of their wines but not yet enough to form much of an opinion. Great exposure in the NYT for these vintners!
Someone will chime in with the correct info I do know a fair amount of the fruit comes from Trinity Lakes Ava and Oregon etc. North of Mt Shasta is very mariginal our family farmed potatoes and alfalfa in that area for 70 years and the growing season is very short!
It was fun to see so many great smaller wineries represented in the Times. Some great choices, of that group I’m most familiar with Iruai, Florez, Terah, Margins and slightly less so with Matt Crutchfield and Emme. The first 3 of that group I’ve had on the podcast. Eric picked a nice range of producers from mostly 0/0 wines to more experimental and more classical styles.
I think of Chad’s white wines I’ve enjoyed the Shasta Cascade blend, The Chenin, Savignin, and Chardonnay the most. For reds Poulsard, Trousseau, Cab Franc, Gamay, Nebbiolo have all been really nice over the years.
Chad has talked about this before and how its kind of the opposite of the longer cooler drawn out Sonoma Coast growing season. For him its a late budbreak and cool fall but a warm to hot summer that combined with the elevation he felt offered a really unique expression.
Yes Trininty Lakes is high elevation but warm,applegate is very similar to sonoma county. The area we farmed in adjacent to Mt Shasta has a 4-5 month growing window. Futher away from the mountain towards oregon is a little more forgiving.
I’ve had Scar of the Sea Bassi Chardonnay a number of times over the last year and am very impressed. Ordered some Pinots and Chards from both Scar of the Sea and Lady of the Sunshine recently and can’t wait to try them all.
Âmevive and Emme poured at the most recent Historic Vineyard Society tasting in San Francisco (and Âmevive for at least the year before), enjoyed them both. If you’re in San Francisco, Palm City in the Sunset sells Âmevive wines, haven’t seen any other retailers carrying the label. The Marsanne is very good.
The Lady of the Sunshine Chene Chardonnay was one of the best Chards we’ve had over the past several years. Outstanding.
Interesting article, and great to give these upstarts the exposure.
I fear that their choice of names is bad. I realize they’re trying to distinguish themselves, but who will remember these oddball winery names when searching for them? Seems like some unwise choices there from a marketing standpoint.
Didn’t read the original post?
They each make a sparkling rose of pinot from different vineyards and styles.
The Scar more strawberry, blood orange and crushable with a touch of dossage/RS at $36
The Lady had a white cherry, lemon that seems more serious and could age… $56