Eastern Madera County Foothills
The Foothills in the eastern portion of Madera County, going toward the Sierra National Forest at the south entrance to Yosemite National Park is not recognized as an AVA [yet!] and is labeled Madera County until then. However, every bit of the eastern Madera is foothills in terms of soil, elevation, and air drainage; complete with high elevation diurnal temperature swings is a viticultural secret treasure. The Madera foothills are characterized by decomposed granite soils that can be shallow in some places with fractured rock and bedrock that mitigate excessive vegetative growth and increased stress that causes hormonal signals to create intense flavors and aromas.
The EMC is a relatively undiscovered region in terms of viticulture and winemaking. Due to gold/silver mining busts, logging mill hardships that abandoned the once flourishing town of North Fork, and coupled with some of the longest holdouts of indigenous people lands within the Sierra National forest, have not been a boon for local development or tourism. Thus it is largely untapped and in the right hands is already producing great wine, with only a few vintners having discovered this promising area.
The Foothills in the eastern portion of Madera County, going toward the Sierra National Forest at the south entrance to Yosemite National Park is not recognized as an AVA [yet!] and is labeled Madera County until then. However, every bit of the eastern Madera is foothills in terms of soil, elevation, and air drainage; complete with high elevation diurnal temperature swings is a viticultural secret treasure. The Madera foothills are characterized by decomposed granite soils that can be shallow in some places with fractured rock and bedrock that mitigate excessive vegetative growth and increased stress that causes hormonal signals to create intense flavors and aromas.
The EMC is a relatively undiscovered region in terms of viticulture and winemaking. Due to gold/silver mining busts, logging mill hardships that abandoned the once flourishing town of North Fork, and coupled with some of the longest holdouts of indigenous people lands within the Sierra National forest, have not been a boon for local development or tourism. Thus it is largely untapped and in the right hands is already producing great wine, with only a few vintners having discovered this promising area.
Love Ranch Vineyard - 22.85 acres
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Love Ranch Vineyard was established in 1994 in the central Sierra Foothills comprising about 20 acres of Rhone varieties ahead of it's time. Located just east, up-the-hill from the Madera American Viticultural Area (AVA) boundary near the town of Coarsegold, CA. Achieving Organic Certification in 2016, we only source Syrah, Grenache Noir, and Viognier from the 9 Rhone varieties planted which were propagated from Tablas Creek's nursery in Santa Rosa. The wines produced from these south-facing, wave-like slopes are rich and elegant. Soft red and blue fruits from the red varieties and powerful tropical notes in the Viognier are electrified with a mineral granite and chaparral component. Wines from here have structure and can age for a decade or longer with improvement
The Wines:
2012 Syrah, Love Ranch Vineyard - Sold Out 89pts Wine Enthusiast
2012 Mourvedre, Love Ranch Vineyard - Sold Out
2012 Viognier, Love Ranch Vineyard - Sold Out
2023 Syrah, Love Ranch Vineyard - in barrel
2023 Viognier, Love Ranch Vineyard - in barrel
The Wines:
2012 Syrah, Love Ranch Vineyard - Sold Out 89pts Wine Enthusiast
2012 Mourvedre, Love Ranch Vineyard - Sold Out
2012 Viognier, Love Ranch Vineyard - Sold Out
2023 Syrah, Love Ranch Vineyard - in barrel
2023 Viognier, Love Ranch Vineyard - in barrel
Kern Family Farm Vineyard - 0.05 acres
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Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon |
Kern Family Farm is probably one of the most dramatic vineyard sites in California. Located deep in the Sierra National Forest, it is safe to say that this extremely small, organically-certified vineyard is above the foothills. Perched on the north side of the San Joaquin river gorge, overlooking a sheer south-facing cliff next to Saginaw creek, the Cabernet Sauvignon vines enjoy lots of sun-soaked afternoons and cool high-elevation air drafts. Farmed exclusively for us by the Kern Family, this vineyard represents more than just location, soil, and elevation. A friendship and desire to do the right thing in terms of quality and connection to place goes beyond hands-on, personal touch!
The Wine:
2023 Tulsi Rose Art Series Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon, Kern Family Farm - (375ml bottles available only)
The Wine:
2023 Tulsi Rose Art Series Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon, Kern Family Farm - (375ml bottles available only)
Madera AVA is a land area located in Madera County and a portion of Fresno County just south of the San Joaquin river. A total area of 30+K acres (15+ hectars) is planted to wine grapes today. Madera was designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1985.
Beginning in the late 1800’s however, settlers homesteaded small farms and planted grapes to produce wine. These settlers came to Madera bringing their old world winemaking expertise from such countries as Italy, Armenia, France and others.
Madera County has long been known for producing world-renown dessert wines and ports post-Prohibition. Recently though, many new small wineries have joined these flagship premium wineries making premium dry table wine as well. This current renaissance is driven by science and technology, which recognizes that this microclimate is managed different than it's premium California AVA counter parts. First is proper variety selection that goes back to pre-Prohibition winemaking knowledge. Varieties like Barbera, Chenin Blanc, or Malvasia Bianca that hold onto acids as they mature is key. Secondly that this area is bounded and cooled by the San Joaquin River on the southwest and the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the east, that mitigate the warm summer temperatures and are enhanced by varied soil types that provide a foundation for the full development of the grapes, and with a careful quality conscience touch that recognize these distinctive characteristics, it is fully revealed in the glass.
Beginning in the late 1800’s however, settlers homesteaded small farms and planted grapes to produce wine. These settlers came to Madera bringing their old world winemaking expertise from such countries as Italy, Armenia, France and others.
Madera County has long been known for producing world-renown dessert wines and ports post-Prohibition. Recently though, many new small wineries have joined these flagship premium wineries making premium dry table wine as well. This current renaissance is driven by science and technology, which recognizes that this microclimate is managed different than it's premium California AVA counter parts. First is proper variety selection that goes back to pre-Prohibition winemaking knowledge. Varieties like Barbera, Chenin Blanc, or Malvasia Bianca that hold onto acids as they mature is key. Secondly that this area is bounded and cooled by the San Joaquin River on the southwest and the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the east, that mitigate the warm summer temperatures and are enhanced by varied soil types that provide a foundation for the full development of the grapes, and with a careful quality conscience touch that recognize these distinctive characteristics, it is fully revealed in the glass.
Laurie's Vineyard - 1.93 acres
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Laurie's Vineyard is located in the heart of California's wine production. While working for another central Sierra Foothill winery, Nick was on a quest for grapes that had naturally high acidity, like Chenin Blanc, that would yield good wine in the warm Madera Co temperatures. Nick found Laurie's Vineyard, farmed and owned by Laurie and Loren Freeman. Unlike most growers on the valley floor, the Freemans where quality conscience from the start. This very small 'garden' vineyard is meticulously managed and farmed by hand and will be adjusted year to year based on Nick's winemaking needs. Just outside of the Freeman's home in Madera, north of the San Joaquin river, sits this vineyard on an alluvial fan of fine sandy loam derived from granite.
The wines made from this vineyard always exhibit a wet river stone minerality and, because of lower yields and canopy management only seen in high-end vineyards along the central and north coasts, a rich fruit character and ripe tannin structure that make this vineyard one of the best in all of the central valley!
The Wines:
2013 Malvasia Bianca, Laurie's Vineyard - 90pts Wine Enthusiast
2021 Chenin Blanc, Laurie's Vineyard - 87pts Wine Enthusiast
2021 Cold Press Art Series Vin Gris of Barbera, Laurie's Vineyard - 87pts Wine Enthusiast
2022 On The Edge Art Series Chenin Blanc, Laurie's Vineyard - 92pts Wine Enthusiast
The wines made from this vineyard always exhibit a wet river stone minerality and, because of lower yields and canopy management only seen in high-end vineyards along the central and north coasts, a rich fruit character and ripe tannin structure that make this vineyard one of the best in all of the central valley!
The Wines:
2013 Malvasia Bianca, Laurie's Vineyard - 90pts Wine Enthusiast
2021 Chenin Blanc, Laurie's Vineyard - 87pts Wine Enthusiast
2021 Cold Press Art Series Vin Gris of Barbera, Laurie's Vineyard - 87pts Wine Enthusiast
2022 On The Edge Art Series Chenin Blanc, Laurie's Vineyard - 92pts Wine Enthusiast
North Calaveras County
The Prohibition Era of the 1920’s held Calaveras County as one of the top five wine grape growing counties in California. Smith Vineyards are located at the County’s northern end, and is in distance, actually closer to Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley wine producing area, but at a higher elevation.
The soils here are chaotic and diverse from mixtures of old (over 200 million years) and young (80 million years) material; containing ancient oceanic sedimentary, meta-volcanic rock, and slate, that are uplifted by and mixed with the younger red, iron-rich decomposed granite. Wines made from these vineyards contain balsam and alpine notes, but always with an electric note of slatey mineral and wet soapstone that give the wine a wet clay component that adds a signature appeal of this terroir.
The Prohibition Era of the 1920’s held Calaveras County as one of the top five wine grape growing counties in California. Smith Vineyards are located at the County’s northern end, and is in distance, actually closer to Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley wine producing area, but at a higher elevation.
The soils here are chaotic and diverse from mixtures of old (over 200 million years) and young (80 million years) material; containing ancient oceanic sedimentary, meta-volcanic rock, and slate, that are uplifted by and mixed with the younger red, iron-rich decomposed granite. Wines made from these vineyards contain balsam and alpine notes, but always with an electric note of slatey mineral and wet soapstone that give the wine a wet clay component that adds a signature appeal of this terroir.
Smith Vineyards - 1.35 acres total
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Smith - Old Victorian Vineyard
Smith Vineyards is located in the higher elevation foothills of northern California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. Siting at the entrance to the hamlet town West Point in Calaveras County, it is a short yet dramatic drive up the winding HWY 26 from Mokelumne Hill. Comprising two separately planted vineyards on the same property, they are cared for by Kent and Betsy Smith on land homesteaded in the early 1870’s by Kent’s great grandfather.
In 2003, a small vineyard was propagated using Alicante Bouschet cuttings from the very vineyard that Angeline and Nick exchanged their vows in 2011 at Cedar View Winery, Sanger, CA. These original 80 vines made the original Old Victorian Vineyard, named for the queen Anne Victorian-style house built by Ken's great grandfather, now supports over 200 Alicante vines at what is believed to be one of the highest elevations that this variety is grown in California. In 2012 the Smiths expanded their nano operation by planting, Three Daughters Vineyard, which was established with 1000+ Zinfandel Duprat clone vines, from the help of the namesake three daughters of the Smith Family.
The Wines:
2016 Alicante Bouschet 'Wedding Stix', Old Victorian Vineyard - Sold Out
2016 Late-Harvest Zinfandel VPS, Three Daughters Vineyard - 89pts Wine Enthusiast
2017 The Dance Art Series Alicante Bouschet, Old Victorian Vineyard - 88pts Wine Enthusiast
2017 Zinfandel, Three Daughters Vineyard - 93pts Wine Enthusiast editors choice
2018 ACCOMPLICE Alicante Bouschet Zinfandel Field Blend, Smith Vineyards - 91pts Wine Enthusiast
2018 Rose of Primitivo, Three Daughters Vineyard - 88pts Wine Enthusiast
2018 Primitivo, Three Daughters Vineyard - 91pts Wine Enthusiast
2021 Dusty City Art Series Zinfandel, Three Daughters Vineyard - 93pts Wine Enthusiast
2021 Head Case Art Series Alicante Bouschet Zinfandel Field Blend, Smith Vineyards - 92pts Wine Enthusiast
2023 Rose of Primitivo, Three Daughters Vineyard - Release June 2024
In 2003, a small vineyard was propagated using Alicante Bouschet cuttings from the very vineyard that Angeline and Nick exchanged their vows in 2011 at Cedar View Winery, Sanger, CA. These original 80 vines made the original Old Victorian Vineyard, named for the queen Anne Victorian-style house built by Ken's great grandfather, now supports over 200 Alicante vines at what is believed to be one of the highest elevations that this variety is grown in California. In 2012 the Smiths expanded their nano operation by planting, Three Daughters Vineyard, which was established with 1000+ Zinfandel Duprat clone vines, from the help of the namesake three daughters of the Smith Family.
The Wines:
2016 Alicante Bouschet 'Wedding Stix', Old Victorian Vineyard - Sold Out
2016 Late-Harvest Zinfandel VPS, Three Daughters Vineyard - 89pts Wine Enthusiast
2017 The Dance Art Series Alicante Bouschet, Old Victorian Vineyard - 88pts Wine Enthusiast
2017 Zinfandel, Three Daughters Vineyard - 93pts Wine Enthusiast editors choice
2018 ACCOMPLICE Alicante Bouschet Zinfandel Field Blend, Smith Vineyards - 91pts Wine Enthusiast
2018 Rose of Primitivo, Three Daughters Vineyard - 88pts Wine Enthusiast
2018 Primitivo, Three Daughters Vineyard - 91pts Wine Enthusiast
2021 Dusty City Art Series Zinfandel, Three Daughters Vineyard - 93pts Wine Enthusiast
2021 Head Case Art Series Alicante Bouschet Zinfandel Field Blend, Smith Vineyards - 92pts Wine Enthusiast
2023 Rose of Primitivo, Three Daughters Vineyard - Release June 2024
Have a question regarding a wine you have tried? Email nick@karinewines.com