| Diamond Mountain Wineries: Persistence and Skill Produces Excellent Wines |
Diamond Mountain Wineries: Persistence and Skill Produces Excellent Wines
Diamond Mountain wineries are elevated above the valley floor, situated on Diamond Mountain. Here, the vineyards benefit from the hillside slopes that are warm and rich with volcanic soil. As a result, the mountainside wines that are produced in this region are often quite distinctive.
In particular, the wineries in the Diamond Mountain region are known for being quite age worthy; especially the Cabernet Sauvignon produced here. The steep, often unforgiving, slopes of Diamond Mountain require not only perseverance but also skill. If you are in the region and wish to enjoy a tour or tasting, be sure to call in advance as the wineries in this region are usually only open by appointment.
Along with Cabernet Sauvignon, the warm climate of Diamond Mountain is also ideal for Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Zinfandel and Petit Verdot. There are even some limited quantities of white grapes that are planted in the region as well; including Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
For the most part, the soil of Diamond Mountain is comprised of volcanic ash. Over millions of years, the ash has decomposed to the point that minerals have been able to leech out. Unfortunately, this means that much of the soil is unfertile. The small, rather thick skinned grapes that are produced on Diamond Mountain; however, are able to produce exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Today some of the most superb Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the entire state are produced on Diamond Mountain. These wines tend to have a flavor that is quite intense, even when compared to the regular standards of Napa Valley.
While Cabernet Sauvignon leads when it comes to wine production on Diamond Mountain, many other red varietals are also produced. The sunny slopes on the hills of Diamond Mountain have proven to be perfect for the ripening of grapes such as Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc.
In the early days, pioneering winemakers were drawn to Diamond Mountain by the rugged and beautiful terrain. The first winery to be established on Diamond Mountain was Shramsberg, in 1862. Within thirty years Jacob and Annie Schram would own more than 100 acres in the Diamond Mountain region. Despite the Schram's success, the hostile terrain discouraged most others from cultivating during those early years. A school was not even established on Diamond Mountain until 1909 as a result of the slow settlement in the area. While other areas had developed and then been decimated by both phylloxera and Prohibition, Diamond Mountain had barely even begun its rise to prominence.
As it would turn out, it would be sparkling wine production that would make the difference on Diamond Mountain. Jack and Jamie Davies purchased the Schramsberg property in 1965 and began producing sparkling wine. The historic vineyards were replanted with pinot noir and chardonnay. Eventually, the land was converted to the production of red Bordeaux grapes; however, it was the interest in sparkling wine that revived this struggling area. By the mid-1970s there were several wineries in operation on Diamond Mountain, including Roddis Cellars and Al Brounstein.
The rather unique growing conditions of the area meant that it was necessary for vintners to adapt their own techniques in order to succeed. These efforts eventually paid off handsomely when AVA status was acquired for Diamond Mountain in 1999. Today, the region has earned a reputation as producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. While traditionally these Cabs have not been considered noteworthy until they had aged for a number of years, the Cabs produced on Diamond Mountain have earned a stellar reputation even in their youth.
PPPPP
Word Count 587
|
An Introduction to Napa Valley If you are a wine lover, there is nothing better than taking a tour of ...
read more
Chiles Valley Although small, Chiles Valley is one of the premier wine regions in the state of California. More than ...
read more
Contribution of the Climate and Terrain to the Popularity of the Stags Leap Wine Region Just off Silverado Trail you ...
read more
Diamond Mountain Wineries: Persistence and Skill Produces Excellent Wines Diamond Mountain wineries are elevated above the valley floor, situated on ...
read more
Guide to Howell Mountain Wineries in Napa Valley Howell Mountain offers some of the most outstanding wines in the region, ...
read more
Guide to Oakville Wineries When visiting Oakville, you will notice there are a number of wineries worth visiting. Depending on ...
read more
Guide to Rutherford Wineries in Napa Valley It has been argued that the wineries in Rutherford produce the best Cabernet ...
read more
Guide to Spring Mountain Wineries in Napa Valley Spring Mountain wineries are situated in the northwestern hills of Napa Valley, ...
read more
Guide to Stags Leap Wineries in Napa Valley As you travel through Stags Leap, you will notice that there are ...
read more
History and Development of Mount Veeder in Napa Valley The weather in Mount Veeder tends to be rainier than the ...
read more
History and Development of Rutherford as a Premier Napa Valley Wine Region The first local grapes were planted in Rutherford ...
read more
History of the Carneros Wine Region In the eastern part of Napa Valley, you will find Carneros. While Napa Valley ...
read more
History of the Oak Knoll Wine Region in Napa Valley Oak Knoll has had a reputation as a fine wine ...
read more
Howell Mountain: Seclusion is Recipe for Success Howell Mountain has been the home of noteworthy wines for a number of ...
read more
Introduction and History of the Oakville Wine Region in Napa Valley The Oakville region has become associated with quality wine ...
read more
Introduction to the Coombsville Wine Region in Napa Valley Although Coombsville is not an official AVA, it is still highly ...
read more
Introduction to the Regions of Napa Valley When you first decide to visit Napa Valley you may well find that ...
read more
Introduction to the Yountville Wine Region in Napa Valley If you are planning a stay in Napa Valley, you may ...
read more
Oakville AVA: A Study in Individual Differences Situated directly in the heart of the Napa Valley wine region, Oakville experiences ...
read more
The Climate and Terrain of St. Helena Lends to an Exceptional Napa Valley Wine Region St. Helena has become known ...
read more
The Development of Spring Mountain as a Napa Valley AVA On the western side of Napa Valley, on the Mayacamas ...
read more
The Distinguishing Characteristics of Atlas Peak The wineries of Atlas Peak in Napa Valley are situated along the eastern hills. ...
read more
The Effect of the Climate and Terrain on Rutherford Wineries Rutherford Wineries have become known in the last few years ...
read more
The History and Development of the St. Helena Wine Region in Napa Valley St. Helena was the focal point of ...
read more
Tips for Planning a Pleasurable Napa Valley Wine Tour Napa Valley is a great destination to plan a vacation where ...
read more
|
|
|
Disclaimer:
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in
the creation of this website, notwithstanding the fact that he does not
warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate
due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.
This site
is a common sense guide to Diamond Mountain Wineries: Persistence and Skill Produces Excellent Wines. In practical advice websites,
like anything else in life, there are no guarantees of income made.
Readers are cautioned to reply on their own judgment about their
individual circumstances to act accordingly.
This site
is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or
financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent
professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.
Any
perceived slights of specific people or organizations are unintentional.
|