A distributor who tasted Pride's first effort at making Chardonnay introduced him to Foley. Foley says what drew him to the job was the vineyards, which had first been planted in the late 1800s. The vineyards gave way to a Christmas tree farm in the 1930s and 1940s before vineyards were replanted in the 1950s, according to Pride. Grapes in one vineyard block will reach their desired flavor profile several days sooner than the same grapes just a few feet away, he explains. Foley, who has degrees in viticulture and enology, says each of the soil types on the mountain produce different flavors.
Some vines are more stressed than others because of the rocky makeup of the vineyards.
The stress, he says, intensifies the fruit flavors. Because of varying ripening times and soil types, Foley harvests block by block and makes wine in small batches that are kept separate until it's time to blend. While Pride is experimenting with a few other varieties such as Sangiovese, he is not committed to adding anything new to his lineup. He also says production may rise from the current 12,000 cases a year to around 18,000 cases a year in the next few years, meaning a bit more of his wine will be available. E-mail this story to a friend.