The Tasting Panel magazine

January 2016

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82  /  the tasting panel  /  january-february 2016 CALIFORNIA CLASSICS T he mountain appellations of the Napa Valley have long fascinated me. After all, the Napa Valley, although diverse, is a small growing region. What is it that sets the mountain AVAs apart? Above all, what differentiates Howell Mountain from Spring Mountain from Diamond Mountain from Atlas Peak? I have ideas and opinions about that question, but in this piece I will focus on one mountain appella- tion and one stellar winery: Mount Veeder. The Mount Veeder AVA is recognized as the coolest of the mountain AVAs as it is the most southerly and therefore closest to San Francisco Bay. Equally impactful are the altitudes where the wine grapes are grown. Truth told, it is too cold on parts of Mount Veeder to ripen wine grapes. Spring frosts pose a huge threat to budding vines. The producers that choose to farm on Mount Veeder recognize the myriad challenges. But with risk comes reward. On Top of It All Mount Veeder Winery rests in the Mount Veeder AVA—rec- ognized as the coolest of the mountain AVAs in Napa Valley. MOUNT VEEDER WINERY RISES HIGH ABOVE NAPA VALLEY by Christie Dufault

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