Chalone Vineyard is located in the Chalone AVA south of San Francisco, California, United States, on an unusual geological formation called the Gavilan benchland. The soil is rich in limestone and calcium carbonate and also contains a significant amount of decomposed granite. This soil has a mineral composition similar to the Champagne region of France. Chalone is situated in an arid chaparral environment, in which temperatures can vary as much as 50°F in one day. The climate is very dry, only 12 to 14 in of rain fall per year. These factors combine to create a unique terroir, the signature profile of a wine growing region.
History
In 1919, French immigrant and entrepreneur, Charles L. Tamm, traveled through California searching for the terroir with limestone soil similar to his native Burgundy. He found a property in southern Monterey County on the north slope of Chalone Peak which is currently Chalone Vineyards. On the limestone-based elevated 1800 ft topography, Tamm planted Chenin Blanc sourcing for wineries even during Prohibition, when the grapes were used to make sacramental wines. Winegrowing, however, never became important in Monterey County because it was considered a “poor area” for viticulture. Strong winds off Monterey Bay and the arid, climate of the Salinas River Valley deterred the planting of wine grapes. During Prohibition, only 400 acre of vineyards in Monterey County survived and this acreage was halved in the years following Repeal.[1] Later, Chalone Vineyard grew and its grapes were sold in the 1940s and '50s to Almaden Vineyards and Wente Brothers.[2]
In 1964, the property was purchased by new owners with a commitment to producing fine wine. Under the guidance of California wine pioneer Richard H. Graff, the vineyard expanded when new vineyards were planted and the winery was moved from a converted chicken shed to a bigger location adjacent to where a newer (and much larger) winery stands today.
See also
- Chalone AVA
- California wine
Further reading
- Taber, George M. Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting that Revolutionized Wine. NY: Schribner, 2005.
- Woodward, Phillip and Walter, Gregory S. Chalone: A Journey on the Wine Frontier. Sonoma, CA: Carneros Press, 2000.
External links
References
- Arroyo Seco Viticultural Area Federal Register, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury, 1983-04-15^
- May, Meredith. Chalone: Monterey County's unlikely appellation SFGate, Hearst Communications, Inc, 2013-09-13, retrieved 2024-01-01^
- Worobiec, MaryAnn. Foley Family Wines Buys Chalone Vineyards