Napa Valley − 19 February, 2007
Robert Mondavi Winery, Oakville Appellation, Napa Valley
President's Day, we went to Napa Valley, had a picnic at V. Sattui and drove to Vacaville for shopping.
"I am the Vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
The Bible, New International Version
This verse was in my head during the tour. Learning how wine is made and seeing the cordon (the vine), the branches, the pressing room, the fermentation room, the white oak barrels, the workers who top up the barrels so that the air doesn't ruin the wine.. gives a perspective that is altogether insightful.
some things the tour guide shared with the group --
Location and the character of the soil is very important.
The cordon is not grown from seed, it takes too long. The expert nursery does that, then the winery buys the cordon.
Branches can be grafted onto a cordon to add fruit.
The older the vines, the better the fruit, but less. The young vines have a lot of fruit, but less quality.
If the branches are not pruned, it will become a jungle. Also, the wine will be less quality. There must be a balance between fruit and foliage.
Gravity, not forceful pressing, makes better wine. Handling is minimized. Then yeast is added, then gravity is allowed to do its work.
Air ruins wine. Barrels need to be topped up one by one, by a worker who carries a pitcher of wine for that purpose.
Red wine is made from skins, white wine from fruit. Black grapes can also be used to make white wine, but the white from white makes better wine.
President's Day, we went to Napa Valley, had a picnic at V. Sattui and drove to Vacaville for shopping.
"I am the Vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
The Bible, New International Version
This verse was in my head during the tour. Learning how wine is made and seeing the cordon (the vine), the branches, the pressing room, the fermentation room, the white oak barrels, the workers who top up the barrels so that the air doesn't ruin the wine.. gives a perspective that is altogether insightful.
some things the tour guide shared with the group --
Location and the character of the soil is very important.
The cordon is not grown from seed, it takes too long. The expert nursery does that, then the winery buys the cordon.
Branches can be grafted onto a cordon to add fruit.
The older the vines, the better the fruit, but less. The young vines have a lot of fruit, but less quality.
If the branches are not pruned, it will become a jungle. Also, the wine will be less quality. There must be a balance between fruit and foliage.
Gravity, not forceful pressing, makes better wine. Handling is minimized. Then yeast is added, then gravity is allowed to do its work.
Air ruins wine. Barrels need to be topped up one by one, by a worker who carries a pitcher of wine for that purpose.
Red wine is made from skins, white wine from fruit. Black grapes can also be used to make white wine, but the white from white makes better wine.
