Higher Ground

There’s just something in the world that loves a mountain wine.

Grapes grown at high elevations (say, over 1500 feet above sea level) enjoy benefits over other grapes. First off, they get the one-two gift of more intense solar radiation combined with cooler temperatures. Increased radiation helps the grapes to ripen, but grapes that ripen too quickly sacrifice flavor. Slower ripening grapes generate more of the compounds that we find pleasing. So, with mountain vineyards, grapes can ripen, but not too quickly. That gives winemakers fully matured grapes with more flavorful berries.

Mountain temperatures can be cooler but, at the right level, not too cool. Since cold air flows downwards, mountain vineyards are less at risk from spring frosts. In another plus, the cool mountain nights allow grapes to retain their acidity. Of course, sloped mountain vineyards benefit from good drainage. Vineyard soils that have water but don’t retain it force vines to grow their roots deeper and, thus, access a wider range of nutrients.

All in all, mountain grapes can have fuller flavors balanced by high acidity, and all those characteristics flow into their wines.

This Wine Wednesday, we celebrate high elevation wines! Please join Marillee from importer/distributor Banville Wine Merchants for a trio of high elevation wines. You can stop by anytime between 5:00 and 6:30 PM … and why not? It’s a free, walk-up tasting. What better gift to give yourself in the middle or your week.

Make your Wednesday a Wine Wednesday!