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A Diamond in the Rough – The Gamay Jungle

Last year’s big find was this abandoned Gamay vineyard in Calistoga (map) at the northern end of Napa Valley. A hand-written sign hung on a red barn offered “Grapes for Sale” and a local tip suggested they might be Gamay – just what we needed. Pulling up to the old house behind the barn, it was clear we wouldn’t be mingling with Napa’s upper crust. A few knocks on a creaky screen door and we were greeted by the property’s long-time caretaker, promptly handed a couple of cold beers and given the full story… along with a few other tales about changing times (sadly, we were informed that one can no longer fire a .45 from their front porch in Calistoga).

Long-forgotten in the shadows of pristine Cabernet and Chardonnay estates, these tangled vines were a fitting metaphor for past glory days. No one had harvested, pruned or otherwise tended them in some time. Surprisingly, their was loads of fruit. Hard to find and uneven in many ways, but there were definitely some worthy clusters in there! Now, we’re all about diligent farming practices and all, but we needed Gamay and this was it. Fancy trellising systems, soil testing, pruning methods… they surely have their place, but in the end these were some pretty tasty grapes. The price was right and the vineyard showed serious potential so we jumped on it, dubbing it “The Gamay Jungle.” The 2008 harvest went into our Napa Valley Gamay, which will be barrel aged–a more serious counterpart to our Nouveau. The off season allowed us to tame the beast, pruning and otherwise whipping the vines back into shape. We’re thrilled with the early results and can’t wait to share another vintage. Our harvest crew will surely have an easier time getting to that fruit this year!