Stewarts' Vineyard

Stewarts' Vineyard
5792Grandview Ave
Yorba Linda, California
USA 92886
Phone: 714.693.0413
http://www.stewartsvineyard.com/home.htm

Contact: Nancy Stehle
Email: [email protected]

Stewarts’ Vineyard’s climate is ideal for growing classic Mediterranean red grape varieties. When farmed for quality, these varieties show our favorite attributes in wines from this appellation: expressive fruit, ripe tannins and balanced acidity.

We employ modern techniques such as long pre-fermentation maceration, using open top tanks, a basket press, and aging our wines in only French oak barrels to highlight the aromatics and flavors derived from the vineyards.

Stewarts' Vineyard was founded in 2000 with the winery following in 2004.In the Western Dry Creek Valley of Northern California, winter came and went quickly, leaving the vines short on rain, but in good shape to begin an early growing season. A mild summer moderated the pace of ripening, allowing color and flavor to intensify. Mid-August heat accelerated maturation, and we harvested this 100% Saini Farms Zinfandel at ideal ripeness. It was hand picked very early September 19th, 2007 and immediately driven 500 miles south. After being crushed and destemmed early the following morning at our winery in Yorba Linda, the resulting must was transferred to indoor stainless steel.

Equally independent fermentation was initiated September 23rd with D-80 and D-254 yeast inoculations. During the next fourteen days of primary and secondary (October 3rd) fermentation, the conversion process was completed. This includes two separate musts being hand punched three or four times each day. Hand pressing by basket was done on October 5th.

Then we did it all over again with a second harvest on October 29th from the same Saini Farms vineyard. Just 40 days later and a “lateral” away, we eventually pressed the second cut November 12th. After two rackings each for micro-oxygenation and lees removal, all four lots were transferred into 100% French oak. After twelve months on a combination of, new, one and two year old oak we decided to bottle. We blended all four lots equally and bottled as one very unique Zinfandel on November 28th, 2008.

The fruit for this wine comes from a western sun exposed vineyard, just north of Healdsburg. On the palate, fine grained tannins mingle with blackberry and dark cherry. The blackberry fruit and subtle oak nuances weave together in a complexity of aromas, complimented by dusty floral and mineral notes. There is a suave rose quality that gains power with air.

Already drinking well, the wine will continue to improve with additional ageing. In a world of average wines, this is a delicious and expressive example of what makes Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel so special.

Update Winery information  Submit new wines to be posted  Wineries of America