Natural

DESCRIPTION

Natural Sparkling is a style that is "bone" dry, very crisp and clean. Our Natural is a blend of 48% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 12% Pinot Blanc and has no residual sugar.

WINEMAKING NOTES

South Coast sparkling wines are made in the process called the Charmat, or Tank Method. In this process, our base wine is reinoculated for a secondary fermentatin which occurs in a stainless steel tank. In this process, carbon dioxide is created as a biproduct of the yeast consuming sugar, creating the sparkle. It is whole cluster pressed and stainless steel fermented for primary and secondary fermentation.

VINEYARD NOTES

Natural Sparkling is hand harvested from Carter Estate and Temecula Springs Estate Vineyards. Carter Estate Vineyards is a 62-acre vineyard located in the Temecula Valley. Early morning influence of the Pacific Ocean flows through the coastal mountain range, spilling cool morning clouds and marine layer over the valley. This cooling influence allows the grapes to retain their acid as the clouds burn off, making way for the warm summer sun that allows the ripening process to continue. These are ideal conditions for making crisp white wines and well-structured sparkling wines. Vines are VSP trained; a trellising technique that allows for optimum sun exposure. This vineyard has soils of loam, sandy loam and decomposed granite which are good for grapevine growth with its mixture of sand, silt and clay. It can drain effectively but also keeps nutrients and water available for the vines. A cover crop of pea, barley, bean and vetch is planted between the rows in the winter months to keep our soils healthy, retain water and suppress weeds.
Temecula Springs is a 26-acre vineyard located in the Temecula Valley. It has early morning influence of the Pacific Ocean. Cool air flows through the coastal mountain range spilling morning clouds and marine layer over the valley. This cooling influence allows the grapes to retain their acid as the clouds burn off making way for warm summer sun, which allows the ripening process to continue. This vineyard has soils of loam, sandy loam and decomposed granite which are good for grapevine growth with a mixture of sand, silt and clay. It can drain effectively but also keeps nutrients and water available for the vines. A cover crop of Pea, barley, bean and vetch is planted between the rows in the winter months to keep our soils healthy, to retain water and suppress weeds.