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March 2015 Wines&Vines 37 TECHNICAL SPoTLIGHT WINEMAKING Gentle Harvesting - In the Vineyard sorting (optional) Patented Noria Bucket System Multi-Functional Tractor Tool Carrier - Vineyard Sprayer ( optional) - 3 point Farming Implements (optional) Operator & Technician Friendly FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR VINES West: 707 864-5800 East: 540-825-5700 info@euromachinesusa.com – www.euromachinesusa.com RECONDITIONED BRAUD GRAPE HARVESTERS All are totally reconditioned and come with a one year warranty! able to buy it, and he really liked Anderson Pinot Noir, so we wanted to get more out here," Ackerman said. Once the Caranos purchased the winery, they appointed Acker- man as winemaker. "I love what I do, and really enjoy working for the Caranos," she said. "They are extremely dedicated to making the best wines from each region they grow grapes in, and they allow me to help them achieve that goal." The purchase of Sky High and its 23 acres of Pinot Noir in 2007 was followed by the acquisition of Lazy Creek and its nearly 50 acres of vines in 2008 and then the pur- chase of the 25-acre Middleridge Vineyard in 2012. The Caranos built the winery to ensure quality winemaking but also to handle all their new Pinot Noir acreage. "They saw the uniqueness in the land here," Ackerman said. "It wasn't in the facility, it was the land and the plantings." Located in what's known as "the deep end" of the Anderson Valley, Ackerman said the Lazy Creek estate is situated in one of the coolest parts of the region. The area receives a strong marine in- fluence that results in cool eve- nings and foggy mornings; yet because of the area's geography, temperatures can change by 40° to 50° F during the course of a day. "This allows for good acid reten- tion but still gets warm enough for ripening and flavor development," Ackerman said. "We have several different clones, and each block has a different exposure to sun, wind and temperature. Because each block is unique, I ferment each separately, which allows us to 'dial in' growing techniques for each block and gives great com- plexity in our wines." Lazy Creek, from which the estate takes its name, runs through the property, and an old stone dam creates a small pond for frost protection. Above that pond are hillside vineyards that Ackerman said were the first plantings of Pinot Noir vines in Anderson Val- ley. The vines there today, grafted from cuttings of the original vines, represent the estate's continuing and evolving story, which is now in its third chapter.