2024 Alder Springs Falanghina

Very light in color, almost clear. Nose of cucumber, cherry blossom and white pepper. Medium-light body with flavors of white peach, green apple and wet stone. SR (2/25)

The northern-most vineyard we work with is Alder Springs, located in rural Mendocino County. Above average rainfall replenished the vines, which set a large crop. The vermentino was ready first, with the falanghina one week later. Nearly half the falanghina crop was eaten by bears as it ripened. These unique varieties express site, as much as varietal character. Most interesting to drink now and over the next three years. SR (11/24)

After collecting soil samples from more than 40 potential vineyard locations, Stu Bewley considered a former cattle ranch in rugged Mendocino county. He doubted the rugged, remote, high-altitude property would be suitable for viticulture but the results were a complete surprise—far outperforming anything he’d seen. The minerals and mix of nutrients in the soil were excellent, but the drainage was breathtaking. He purchased the 6000-acre property in 1991. Located in the far northern reaches of Mendocino County, the vineyard sits just 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The hilly landscape climbs to 4,000 feet and offers nearly perfect growing conditions: bright sun, cool nights, phenomenal low-vigor soils. Since 1993, they have planted 140+ acres of grapes spanning everything from classic to esoteric varieties.

Rainfall: 42 inches (above normal)
Bloom: Early June
Weather: A hot July and August brought harvest two weeks early.

Harvest Dates: 29 September – 7 October
Grapes: Average Brix 23.8˚
TA: 7.1 g/L
pH: 3.33
Fermentation: 100% direct-to-press, stainless steel fermentation.
Aging: 3 months in stainless steel tanks.

Sustainably farmed, hand-harvested, grapes; whole-cluster pressed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by a full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 19 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

See all food pairing recipes we have created specifically for this wine.