August 2018 WINES&VINES 77
WINE EAST WINEMAKING
Blends
The piedmont and mountains of Virginia present even the smallest of vine-
yards with a plethora of soils and slopes. Rarely does one size fit all. We are
learning that in order to take advantage of such a patchwork of micro-sites,
small block plantings need to be tailored to soil and slope characteristics.
Then there is the weather. Cool, wet vintages favor Merlot, while
Cabernet Sauvignon shines after hot, dry summers. For these reasons,
the flagship wines of top Virginia wine producers tend to be blends that
can take advantage of the diversity of site and weather conditions.
This is an exciting stage in the evolution of Virginia wines. Many a
vineyard block has been removed
due to unsatisfactory wine quality.
But once we get it right and the
vines lose some of their youthful
vigor, there is a dramatic improve-
ment in wine quality. More sites
are being based on wine quality
potential rather than easy tourist
access. The emphasis is more on
soil mechanics (drainage, depth,
water-holding capacity, runoff)
rather than the subtle nuances of
specific terroir expression. The lat-
ter will come as more producers
start from a solid foundation and
get a few more decades of vin-
tages under their belts.
Jim Law has been the owner and wine
grower at Linden Vineyards in Linden,
Va., since 1983. Located on top of the
Blue Ridge Mountains 65 miles west of
Washington, D.C., Law's vineyard con-
sists of 20 acres. The winery produces
4,000 cases of wine a year.
Natural Corks
Champagne Corks
Twinline Corks
Bartops
VISION Synthetic
Corks
G-Cap® Screw Caps
Sales Representatives:
Chris & Liz Stamp
info@lakewoodcork.com
lakewoodcork.com
4024 State Route 14
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
607-535-9252
607-535-6656 Fax
PIONEER
INNOVATOR
PARTNER
EASTERN WINE LABS
Serving the
Analytical needs of
East Coast Wineries
WWW.EASTERNWINELABS.COM
Ph 609-859-4302 Cell 609-668-2854
chemist@easternwinelabs.com
AOAC Member
EasternWineLab_Mar09.qxp 1/22/09 9:47 AM Page 1
Mountain soils and slopes can provide a patchwork of diversity. Experienced winegrowers are learning how to plant
them appropriately.
PHOTO
COURTESY
OF
LINDEN
VINEYARDS
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