An Anderson Valley Adventure

Map of the Anderson Valley

This weekend, the ladies of The Barrel Room will be heading up north to Mendocino to watch one of our own tie the knot with a wonderful man. In honor of their nuptials (and in preparation for the wine tasting we will be doing there!), today we're going to discuss the cool-climate wines of the Anderson valley--one of our favorite AVAs in California.

The Anderson Valley is an AVA within an AVA within an AVA. If that sounds confusing, imagine you've been handed a large, gift-wrapped box with a card attached that reads 'North Coast AVA.' "How delightful," you say, "I thoroughly enjoy the wines from several of the six grape-growing regions north of San Francisco, like Sonoma and the Napa Valley." Excitedly, you tear open the box, only to find a smaller box inside! This one bears a note with the words 'Mendocino AVA.' Knowing this is one of California's most diverse growing regions, your curiosity as to what lies within is piqued. Of course, you are not surprised when you open that box to find yet another within. This one is labeled 'Anderson Valley AVA,' and you breathe a sigh of relief. By now you're pretty certain that there is a bottle of wine inside (and if there isn't, the person who gave it to you is kind of a jerk). Based on what you've heard about the Anderson Valley, you feel confident that the cooling influence of Pacific fog rolling in from the coast will have helped to produce a nuanced wine that is low in alcohol and high in acidity, whether it is red, white, rosé or sparkling.

Fog rolling in over the Anderson Valley

The wines of the picturesque Anderson Valley often bear a striking resemblance to those from Alsace--the region that France finally seems to have declared permanent victory over in the perpetual game of Red Rover it has been playing with Germany for centuries. Like their Alsatian counterparts, the reds are primarily light-bodied, earthy Pinot Noirs, while whites like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Blanc stun with precision and aromatics. In fact, this region is so enamored with the wines of that region in northeastern France that each February, the International Alsace Varietals Festival is held there. 


Cabot Vineyards (based in Humboldt County) makes a great example of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, currently available by the glass at The Barrel Room. The 2010 vintage is soft and earthy, with notes of spice, red cherry, and strawberry. Served alongside the Domaine Allimant-Laugner Pinot Noir from Alsace in a flight, it is interesting to compare the differences and similarities. Other notable producers in the area include Navarro Vineyards, Handley Cellars, Goldeneye Winery, Londer Vineyards, and Philo Ridge Vineyards, Roederer Estate (known for sparkling wine). 

More fog rolling in over the Anderson Valley

Located just over two hours north of San Francisco and encompassing the towns of Boonville, Philo and Navarro, the Anderson Valley is unique in its geography in that the vineyards cut laterally through a coastal mountain range, rather than lying between ridges. Combined with the cooling effects of the nearby Pacific Ocean, this produces a wide diurnal range, meaning that temperatures are radically different between daytime and night. Warm daytime temperatures enable the grapes to slowly reach physiological ripeness without the sugar levels going through the roof, while cool nights--sometimes up to 50 degrees cooler--allow the fruit to maintain its acidity. This type of climate helps to create a wonderfully balanced end product.

If you plan to visit the Anderson Valley, you may want to brush up on your Boontling. What's that you say? Your high school didn't offer Boontling as a language option? Whatever, I'm sure Spanish will be really useful. If you want to impress the locals in Boonville, you'll have to speak to them in the esoteric, English-based language invented by residents of this 700-person town in the late 19th century. Drawing also on Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Pomo Indian, and Spanish, the language is spoken nowhere else in the world, which is a shame because its 1000-plus words are extremely colorful and creative in nature. To get you started, the most important word you need to know is 'frati'--Boontling for wine, of course. But don't get can-kicky and throw a wheeler if you pike to Boont and the locals want to shark because you're a brightlighter.* They're a pretty insular community. But they make some damn good wine.

-Nikki

A little bit of Boontling poetry

*Translation: Don't get angry and throw a fit if you travel to Boonville and the locals want to fight because you're an outsider.