Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/859549
114 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 The old school house is one of several buildings on Cyrus Alexander's original property lovingly preserved by the Wetzel family at Alexander Valley Vineyards. Folks that live and work in the valley want to keep it the way it is. "That's why you see so many families here for multiple generations," says Harry Wetzel, Assistant Winemaker, and the third generation of his family helping to run the winery. Christian Favalli from Atlanta's La Grotta Ristorante Italiano marveled, "The micro- climates can shift so dramatically, and it's eye-opening to realize the amount of work that goes into every single bottle that 2017 Alexander Valley Cabernet Academy Attendees Zack Taylor, The Dearborn Tavern , Chicago, IL Kelly Peterson Bates, Sommelier, The Boarding House, Chicago, IL Ryan Musser, Wine Director, The Boka Restaurant Group, Chicago, IL Kathy Roth, Director of Beer and Wine, Donelan's Supermarkets, Littleton, CO Matt Brooks, Wine Director, Warehouse Wine and Spirits, Framingham, MA Chris Peters, Buyer, Teresa's, Wayne, PA Erik Boyd, Hotel Beverage Director, The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago, IL Madeleine Thompson, Beverage Manager, Flora St Café, Dallas, TX Julia Dixon, Manager, Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar, Austin, TX Mike Zygmonski, Wine Director, SoDel Concepts, Rehoboth Beach, DE Dennis Cardoso, Birch and Vine – Birchwood Hotel, St. Petersburg, FL Christian Favalli, Director of Beverage, SaltYard, Atlanta, GA Rafael Hernandez, Wine Director, The Winery Restaurant, Newport Beach, CA Jacqueline Orak, Sommelier/Buyer, High Cotton, Charleston, SC Andrew Shaffner, Wine Director, Allred's Restaurant - Telluride Ski Resort, Telluride, CO Maurice DiMarino, Wine and Beverage Manager, Cohn Restaurant Group, San Diego, CA Enrique Martinez, Restaurant Manager, The Ranch at Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach, CA John Michael O'Shea, Buyer, Lombardi Group, Dallas, TX Rina Bussell, Assistant Wine Director, Spago, Beverly Hills, CA Ajit Acharya, Director of Opps, Hilton Waterfront, Huntington Beach, CA Jeff Lowder, Buyer, DC Steakhouse, Chandler, AZ Michael Pickering, Wine Director, Marriott Marquis, San Diego, CA Andrew Algren, Wine Director, The Cherry Circle Room, Chicago Athletic Association, Chicago, IL Mark Mollica, Co-Owner/Chef, La Vecchia Cucina, Santa Monica, CA Up, up and Rockaway. From the top of Rodney Strong's breathtaking Rockaway Vineyard, we could see almost the entire valley where Cyrus Alexander planted the first vines in the mid-1800s. The Pacific marine layer (aka fog) that so influences the wines blanketed the valley end to end that morning. Given Alexander Valley's hot and arid summers, high sugar levels in the grapes could result in potentially over-generous alcohol levels in the wines. The cool ocean air and breezes from up-welling encourages acid development-a key factor in a wine's balance and ageing potential.