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WINEMAKING TECHNICAL SPOTLIGHT 50 WINES&VINES July 2015 Jim Barbour, who manages Sinegal's estate vineyards as well as many other properties, is a re- spected and experienced name in wine country. At least at present, all wines are estate-grown. The property lies on the south side of the town of St. Helena and at the western edge of the valley, where bench- land meets more rugged hills. It includes 9.5 acres of diverse vine- yards planted to Cabernet Sauvi- gnon (4.5 acres planted in 1997 using clones 337 and 7), Cabernet Franc planted in the 1970s, Petite Verdot, Malbec, Semillon, Sauvi- gnon Blanc and Sauvignon Mus- qué grapes. Some are new or replanted. The vineyards are certified by CCOF (California Certified Or- ganic Farmers); the estate also keeps chickens on the property along with culinary and ornamen- tal gardens, and it is getting some goats to help with weeding. "We're trying to restore the vineyards to what they were—or what they could be," said David Sinegal. He may plant additional vineyards and eventually source other grapes, too, as he intends to increase production over time. The property has two irriga- tion lines running along each row for flexibility in giving different amounts of water to different vines. A 25-acre lake on the prop- erty is a reservoir that collects surface water, but Sinegal also has wells to draw from if needed. Winery wastewater is treated and used for frost protection and irrigation. Winemakers Like vineyard manager Barbour, Sinegal's winemaker Tony Biagi has extensive experience. He long made wine for Napa Valley's PlumpJack Vineyards in Oakville and Cade Estate on Howell Moun- tain, as well as overseeing the rebirth of what is now Odette Win- ery in the Stags Leap District. He became winemaker at Hourglass in 2012 and continues in that role. Craig Williams, the long-time winemaker at Joseph Phelps, serves as a blending consultant. His specialty has been Bordeaux- New from Wines Vines Analytics IDENTIFY, CONTACT & MONITOR DISTRIBUTORS with the DISTRIBUTOR MARKET SERVICE • Identify Distributors by Name or by Winery • View Portfolio of Wineries Represented • Get Contact Information for Distributors • Monitor Distributor Sales • Download Performance Reports SEARCH 1,400 + NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTORS Learn more about the DISTRIBUTOR MARKET SERVICE at winesandvines.com/dms