Our first domestically produced wine in this series is Troon Vineyard Vermentino. Troon Vineyard's winery is located in the Applegate Valley of southern Oregon. Troon is certified organic and biodynamic and practices regenerative agriculture in their vineyard and natural winemaking in their winery. Regenerative agriculture is a way of farming that works to improve soil conditions, reducing effects on climate change by increasing topsoil viability and biodiversity. This in turn creates a better water system and an overall more sustainable vineyard ecosystem. This gives the ultimate potential for expression of terroir. 

About the Wine Region

The Applegate valley hosts a Mediterranean climate and rests 45 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean along the Siskiyou mountains. The region stays clear from fog and is much warmer than other winegrowing regions such as coastal California but maintains cool nighttime temperatures thanks to its proximity to the mountains.

Grapes and Style

This wine is 100% Vermentino, a white skinned grape commonly grown on the Italian island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean Sea. These grapes have higher levels of phenols than many white varietals, which lends complexity in both flavor and body. Light foot treading before pressing allows for some skin contact time-which also adds complexity and depth. The wine is then fermented and aged in neutral oak for six months with occasional battonage (stirring the lees back into the wine). 

Tasting Notes

This wine includes lots of delicate floral notes, including elderflower and honeysuckle as well as light green fruit flavors like apple and pear. Light on the nose, but rich in body due to the battonage process with a nice minerality and moderate levels of acidity.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This wine is fantastic for our Pacific Northwest winter, as it not only holds up well to rich types of cheese or starchy potato dishes but also accompanies a variety of light fish and seafood. Halibut or chicken tacos with lime or a bright dish of mussels are our best directions.

Beer Parallel 

This wine is not unlike a selection of crisp farmhouse style beers, especially those featuring honey, like Green Bench’s Sauvage Miel, which holds a rich mouthfeel from the addition of honey but finishes clean and floral overall. Continental-type hops featuring floral notes in any lighter beer might also be a great parallel. 

Takeaway

This is not a terribly challenging wine, especially if you already have a taste for light, floral beer with character and body. Supporting renewable agriculture in wine is hugely important to us, and we think it should be for all wine consumers, so this is a fantastic way to enjoy the fruits of a venture with positive effects on the future.