winery logoThe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon : The grapes that go into the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon are completely estate grown.  The beautiful estate vineyards at Wofford total five acres disbursed in four separate locations on the twenty acre site.  The geography and geology of the site makes the growing conditions for each significantly different and capable of supporting a number of different varietals.  Positioned as it is on the top of a knoll, with three sides dipping strategically to the north, south  and west, the estate is often five to ten degrees warmer than most of the surrounding countryside.  It is a fascinating weather related phenomenon that regions located at the bottom of a hill are usually colder in the winter than those on the top because the heavy cold air tends to sink to the lower areas forcing the lighter warm air to rise.  This is one of the reasons that parts of the California Central Valley can be significantly colder on a bitter winter night than the higher Sierra Foothills regions. It is just this phenomenon that works to Wofford’s benefit, draining the cold air off the knoll and making late spring frosts much less of an issue than it is at other vineyards in the region.

Viognier GrapesNext to the winery building, on the south west side of the driveway, and on land that slightly slopes towards the south, are located the heat loving varietals of Petite Sirah and Nebbiolo.  On the top of the hill, but sloping slightly towards the north is the colder weather tolerant Viognier.  The winery produces two Viogniers; a dry version that is made from grapes harvested in Lodi, and their late harvest version which comes from these estate grapes.  It is the late harvested vineyards with their long fall hang time that come with challenges few valley wineries could even imagine. 

The grape growers of the higher Foothills have some interesting challenges when it comes to wild life and this vineyard is no exception.  The season starts with birds and deer which the winery uses a combination of wind chimes and unpleasant aromas to discourage from destroying their crop.  In addition, for deer protection the winemaker has chosen an intriguing strategy of growing the grape canopy a little higher off the ground to make it less appealing to the convenience inspired deer who would rather not have to work too hard to get their food if there is plenty of browse lower to the ground.  This has worked pretty well for deer, but nothing will deter a bear bent on devouring fresh, sweet berries.  This is the issue for the Late Harvest Viognier; the bears that forage through the foothills in late spring, early winter will eat the whole harvest if the rest of the local fruits have been eaten.   A wondering bear with a taste for your vineyards can help you make that decision about whether its time to pick or not.  Just for the record (and contrary to what I have read in a few wine books), there are no grizzly bears left in the Foothills, the Sierra Nevadas or Coast Ranges of California.  The last of these animals were killed off almost a century ago and the only indigenous bear left is the black bear (which can be brown in color), which can be large, but very seldom threatens humans.  Continued ...