An Evening with Linda Neal, Napa Valley Vintners
An Evening with Linda Neal, Napa Valley Vintners
Napa Valley is a wine region famous throughout the world. Although most people have heard of Napa Valley, not everyone knows why it is one of the premier wine growing regions in the world. It did not happen by accident.
Recently, there was an event sponsored by Napa Valley Vintners held on the patio of La Maison Gourmet in Mission Viejo. The host, Linda Neal, a grape grower, vineyard manager and vineyard owner, spent the better part of two hours explaining the nuances that make Napa Valley what it is today.
Napa Valley is an officially recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA), a designated wine-growing region. While that is a big deal, Napa Valley is not a big place. The valley floor sits between the Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges and is roughly only 5 miles wide and 30 miles in length. Although Napa Valley is one of the most highly regarded wine regions in the world, it is also one of the smallest. The Napa Valley AVA is about one-eighth the size of the Bordeaux region of France.
Yet within that small area there are over 100 soil variations, each one capable of giving the grape a different character. Adding to the diversity are rolling hills in the north and mountain ranges on the east and west. The fertile soils of the valley floor differ from the rocky soils of these slopes, where the wines may have to fight for moisture. These differences help to define the wines that are crafted in Napa Valley. As does the climate and altitude, ranging from sea level to the 4,000-foot peak of Mount St. Helena.
If the wine gods were to create a perfect growing region for a grape, Napa Valley would be the result. The Mediterranean climate zone location has warm summer days, perfect for building up sugar content. The cool evenings are ideal for developing the acidity desired. With a long growing season, grapes here ripen slowly and evenly for a perfect balance of the two.
Within the valley are several distinct soils and microclimates that can have a huge impact on a different variety of grapes. Rainfall in the southern section averages only 18 inches per year, while the mountains on the north end can get up to 60 inches. Fortunately, this rain falls mostly in the winter months, not during the growing season. This helps reduce the risk of vineyard diseases, which can decimate a crop.
All of these factors, when taken together, are commonly referred to by the French word terroir. Loosely translated as a sense of place', it is why the same grape grown in different parts of the world can taste entirely different. Right here in Napa, a Merlot from Howell Mountain AVA to the north will have powerful blackberry-current flavors with excellent acidity. To the south, in Los Carneros, the same grape will be slightly herbal, often used for blending.
So the decision for many Napa winemakers is whether to blend or not? Blending from different vineyards and regions within the appellation allows for the creation of wines with greater complexity. Single vineyard wines often have a very distinct style, a distinct sense of place, if you will.
Napa Valley is also home to some of the most advanced winemaking techniques in the world. For example they were the first to use satellite technology from NASA to assist with planting and irrigation decisions.
The close association with UC Davis, one of the most respected wine schools in the world, allows Napa to be at the forefront of research in the wine industry, from clones to cover crops to harvest techniques and fermentation. It is all right in their back yard, allowing a perfect blending of the art and science of fine winemaking.
Napa Valley has come a long way from the very first planting of grapes by George Calvert Yount, the namesake of Yountville, in 1838-39. Continuing that tradition is Linda Neal, owner of Tierra Roja Vineyard, located on the eastern slopes of the Oakville Appellation in Napa Valley. Along with winemaker David DeSante, they have crafted a Cabernet Sauvignon for you to enjoy on those special occasions.
There were 250 cases made of their Tierra Roja 2006 Cabernet that is only 3,000 bottles of wine, a rare treasure. Tierra Roja Vineyard is shinning example of what makes this place so special 95% of Napa Valley wineries are family owned, and nearly 60% of the wineries there produce less than 6,000 cases of wine.
Tierra Roja itself is just over 4 acres, on a hillside, with three different styles of grapes coming from it. There is a 250-foot elevation change from bottom to top. At the top of the slope are smaller grapes, with more sugar and less water. The bottom grapes are much more acidic, leaving the middle a blend of both. They also make sure that they pick all the grapes in one day, keeping the different lots separate. The blending will occur later, during the winemaking process. So while it is a single vineyard, the wine is a blend of three unique styles of grape. And that is the real beauty of Napa Valley!
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