Long Meadow Ranch winery has purchased a 59 hectare estate in California’s Anderson Valley, where it intends to emulate Burgundy by focusing on single vineyard Pinot Noir and also Chardonnay.
Named Anderson Valley Estate, the site is already planted with 20 hectares of Pinot Noir, as well as seven ha of Chardonnay and just under one ha of Pinot Gris, Long Meadow Ranch said. It did not disclose financial details of the deal.
It has recruited native Burgundy winemaker Stephane Vivier (pictured) specifically for the newly acquired vineyards, which lie at the ‘deep end’ of Anderson Valley close to Philo, around two hours north of San Francisco by car.
See also: Decanter travel guide: Anderson Valley, California
‘Expanding into estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a natural fit, and we believe Anderson Valley is the ideal location to produce premium, Burgundian varietal wines,’ said Long Meadow Ranch’s chief executive and president, Ted Hall.
‘We’ve [already] established strong positions with the classic Bordeaux varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot at our Rutherford and Mayacamas Estates in Napa Valley,’ he said.
The vineyards are planted in several distinct blocks with varying elevations, soil composition, sun exposure and proximity to the Navarro river, said Long Meadow Ranch.
A map of Anderson Valley, northern California. Credit: Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association
Winemaker Vivier said, ‘The subtleties and complexities characteristic of the Burgundian varietals are not always easy to achieve in the United States. Pinot Noir here can have a tendency for high alcohol and can be overly fruit-forward, in part because that’s what the climate allows.
‘But in the Anderson Valley, and specifically in the deep end of the valley, the possibilities are intriguing.’
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