Background
In 1989,
longtime friends and winery partners Tim Meinken, Anne Giere, John
Hall, and Denice Engstrom searched Sonoma County for the perfect
site to grow the cool-climate varietals of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
in the tradition of the great Burgundian vintners. The Sapphire Hill
Vineyard, located in the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley
appellation and named for the cool, sapphire-blue nights of the
area, was the perfect choice.
As they set about the task of
planting 32 hillside acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and later Syrah
grapes, they employed the latest technology of vertical canopy
management, drip irrigation, and high-density planting techniques. In
the early years the grapes were sold to such prestigious wineries as
Rodney Strong, Sonoma-Cutrer, La Crema, and Murphy-Goode Estate
Winery.
As the vineyards reached
their full maturity and potential, the partners set out to make the
finest wines possible from their estate-grown grapes. Beginning with
the 1997 vintage, they consistently sought to develop a style that
emphasized the luscious, fruit-forward characteristics of the Russian
River Valley while employing ultra-premium winemaking techniques. The
neighboring vineyards of Sonoma-Cutrer, Saralee’s Vineyard, and Dutton
Ranch have all preceded Sapphire Hill in producing outstanding wines
from the area’s shallow, rocky soils.
Sapphire Hill’s award-winning
consulting winemaker, Greg La Follette recently joined Sapphire Hill
after gaining fame at Flowers Winery and the artisan wineries of
Hartford Court and La Crema. He believes the current release of the
Sapphire Hill Chardonnay shows concentrated, elegant tropical flavors,
while retaining subtle nuances of green apples and toasty oak. The
Chardonnay is complemented by their other Russian River Valley
bottlings, an estate Pinot Noir and Syrah, and Zinfandel.
Made from 100% estate fruit, this wine shows
classic Russian River characteristics of forward yet elegant fruit,
and finishes with crisp green apple and subtle oak integration.
Awards: Silver Medal--San
Francisco Wine Competition
Silver Medal--West Coast Wine Competition
Silver Medal--Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Food Parings
This wine would be outstanding with shrimp dishes
and is perfect next to a light seafood salad. Most of the feedback
we get from clients tell us that it is used as a cocktail wine with
appetizers particularly in warm weather. It should be well chilled
and you should have plenty on hand. It goes fast!
Cellar Hints
Keep it cool (55-65 degrees F) and the wine will drink very well for
3 or 4 years. The wine is made to enjoy now!
