2011 Gainey Vineyard Limited Selection Riesling, Santa Ynez Valley, USA
Average Price of 750ml bottle, ex-tax in USD: $15
Riesling is a light-skinned, aromatic grape of German origin which is - if the majority of top wine critics are to be believed - the world's finest white wine grape variety.
For many, the claim above may seem at odds with the sea of chaptalized, low-quality wine exported from Germany in the late 20th century. In truth, very little of that infamous wine was Riesling at all (Riesling became a scapegoat for higher-yielding grapes such as Müller-Thurgau and Silvaner), but the reputation has nonetheless stuck. No less unshakeable a stereotype is of Riesling as just a 'sweet' grape, used only to make sticky wines. Although founded on a basic truth ( ... more
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Santa Ynez Valley wine region
The Santa Ynez Valley AVA is the largest wine sub-region of Santa Barbara County and has the highest concentration of vineyards. The valley runs from east to west, between the Purisima Hills and the San Rafael Mountains in the north, and the Santa Ynez Mountains in the south. Although the valley is open to the Pacific Ocean in the west, the fact that it is relatively narrow means that limited cool air and fog is funnelled in. Low average rainfall and a very long growing season make the region ideal for quality wine production.
The diverse climates of Santa Ynez Valley mean that a wide array of wines is produced. The cool, western part of the AVA is predominantly planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, ac ... more
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Santa Barbara County wine region
Santa Barbara County occupies a roughly rectangular area at the southern end of California's Central Coast region. Its southern and western boundaries are formed by the Pacific coastline as it deviates from its south-easterly course, veering first south towards Lompoc and Point Arguello, then east from Point Concepcion to the port town of Santa Barbara (the county seat). Since America's winemaking renaissance in the 1960s and 1970s, Santa Barbara vineyards have been increasin ... more
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The Gainey Vineyard |
$15.00
Bottle
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