Alban Vineyards

Alban Vineyards
Location Edna Valley, USA
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
Other products dessert wine
Website www.albanvineyards.com

Alban Vineyards is a California wine estate producing various Rhône style blends and varietal wines. The winery is located in Edna Valley, near Arroyo Grande in the southern corner of San Luis Obispo County.

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 (20 ha) 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 variety was near extinction.[6]

Production

Within a 250-acre (100 ha) area, the vineyard area extends 60 acres (24 ha),[7] planted with varieties Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. 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]

References

  1. ↑ Saekel, Karola. San Francisco Chronicle (2000-11-01). "Alban Goes for the Rhone". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  2. ↑ Asimov, Eric. New York Times (2005-11-02). "Where the Rhone Bends to the West". The New York Times.
  3. 1 2 Parker, Robert M. Jr. Food & Wine (October 2007). "The Promise of Paso Robles".
  4. ↑ Robinson, Jancis (2003-04-15). "Alban Vineyards Syrahs, Edna Valley".
  5. ↑ Daley, Bill. Chicago Tribune (2004-09-21). "Floral, aromatic viognier blossoms as winemakers fall for its charms".
  6. ↑ O. Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes pg 276-281 Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN 0-15-100714-4
  7. ↑ Winepros.com. "Alban Vineyards". Archived from the original on 2007-09-13.
  8. ↑ Calwineries. "Alban Vineyards".

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