Alban Vineyards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Alban Vineyards | |
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| Location | Edna Valley, USA |
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| Appellation | Edna Valley AVA |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Key people | John Alban, winemaker |
| Cases/yr | 5,000 |
| Known for | Lorraine Vineyard Reva Vineyard Syrah Seymour's Vineyard Syrah Pandora |
| Varietals | Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Grenache, Viognier, Mourvèdre |
| Other product | dessert wine |
| Website | www.albanvineyards.com |
Alban Vineyards is a California wine estate producing various Rhône style blends and varietal wine. The winery is located in Edna Valley, near Arroyo Grande in the southern corner of San Luis Obispo County.
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[edit] History
Starting in 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989.[1] With a focus on creating wines made from Rhône Valley varietals, Alban came to be a pioneer of the Rhone Rangers movement, and is considered one of the most influential American Rhone producers.[2][3][4]
On beginning to grow Viognier, Alban stated "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieu and Château-Grillet.[5] Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the varietal was near extinction.[6]
[edit] Production
Within a 250-acre (1.0 km²) area, the vineyard area extends 60 acres,[7] planted with varieties Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. Additional grapes Grenache and Roussanne are sourced from vineyards located in the warmer Paso Robles AVA.[8]
Among the wines produced are the Lorraine Vineyard, Reva Vineyard Syrah, Seymour's Vineyard Syrah, and Pandora, a blend of Grenache and Syrah.[3] There has also been produced a dessert wine with ca. 5% botrytis grapes and aged in 50% new oak, named Rotten Luck.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ Saekel, Karola. San Francisco Chronicle (November 1, 2000). Alban Goes for the Rhone.
- ^ Asimov, Eric. New York Times (November 2, 2005). Where the Rhone Bends to the West.
- ^ a b Parker, Robert M. Jr. Food & Wine (October, 2007). The Promise of Paso Robles.
- ^ Robinson, Jancis (April 15, 2003). Alban Vineyards Syrahs, Edna Valley.
- ^ Daley, Bill. Chicago Tribune (September 21, 2004). Floral, aromatic viognier blossoms as winemakers fall for its charms.
- ^ O. Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes pg 276-281 Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN 0151007144
- ^ Winepros.com. Alban Vineyards.
- ^ a b Calwineries. Alban Vineyards.
