2022 Birdhorse Wines Verdelho Contra Costa County, USA

2022 Birdhorse Wines Verdelho Contra Costa County, USA

$31.99

This year's Verdelho is a leaner iteration of this Portuguese grape. Notes of green pineapple and wet stone mingle with an herbaceous hint of tarragon and a sweet undertone of cedar.  Racy acidity compliments a grippy mouthfeel on the palate, creating a long and citrus-y finish that's as bright as it is refreshing.

The Vineyard

Our Verdelho grapes reside in the town of Knightsen in Contra Costa County just 2 miles from the San Joaquin Delta. Warm days help bring out the golden, aromatic tones of this variety but cool winds from the Delta help diminish nighttime temperatures and preserve its brilliant acidity. Planted in 2002, the Evina Vineyard sits on Sorrento silty clay loam soils, farmed organically by grower Tom Morgan. 

The Wine
This vintage truly showed how well-suited this Portuguese variety is to the intensity of the California climate. Farming during a drought is challenging at the best of times, but in the mostly sandy soils of Contra Costa, water is always at the front-of-mind. Canopies were the smallest we've ever seen them, but clusters and berries were equally small to match. This yielded fruit with lightning-acidity and bright, ethereal flavors to match.

Grapes were hauled to the winery and put direct-to-press, and pumped into stainless steel. This juice was then pumped over once a day for 6 days until fermentation began, at which time it was transferred to a mixture of puncheons, neutral barrels and stainless drums. Fermentation continued on for approximately three weeks and, once dry, wines were sulfured to arrest malolactic fermentation. The wine remained on its lees to age for 5 months, until it was racked and blended for bottling.

 

-Birdhorse WInes

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