Home Consumer Have You Tried Mountain-Grown Wines Lately?

Have You Tried Mountain-Grown Wines Lately?

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By Tom Marquardt And Patrick Darr

Mountain-grown wines have long captivated our palates. Despite commanding premium prices, these bottles from the slopes of Italy, California, and beyond offer unparalleled complexity and structure that come with a price.

https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/lots-red-wine-bottles-winery_10353376.htm#page=2&query=winery&position=15What was once considered hostile terrain has transformed into viticultural gold. Napa Valley’s prestigious appellations—Howell Mountain, Pritchard Hill, Mount Veeder, Atlas Peak, Diamond Mountain—now produce some of America’s most coveted wines. In Argentina’s Mendoza region, vineyards thrive at breathtaking elevations of 9,000 feet, while Italian vintners craft exceptional wines in the shadow of the Alps.

The secret lies in the struggle. In these rocky, seemingly impenetrable soils, grapevine roots snake between layers of hardpan and bedrock, sometimes plunging 30 feet deep in search of water—ten times deeper than their valley-floor counterparts. This stress forces vines to produce smaller berries with thicker skins, resulting in concentrated flavors, vibrant acidity, and structured tannins that define age-worthy cabernets and merlots.

Faith Based Events

The volcanic terrain of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands offers perhaps the most dramatic example of vines thriving against all odds, yielding intensely flavored wines from seemingly barren earth.

Mountain vineyards also enjoy more consistent temperatures than valleys, particularly valuable in our warming climate. The slower ripening process preserves acidity while developing nuanced aromas, concentrated dark fruit flavors, distinctive minerality, and those firm tannins collectors prize.

The economics are equally straightforward: steep slopes require hand-harvesting, yields remain naturally low, and production is limited—all factors that drive the premium pricing of these remarkable wines.

Here are some examples of mountain-grown wines:

Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (Wine.com)

Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 ($325). From one of the best growing regions for cabernet sauvignon, this wine exudes power, yet it is still elegant in the classic sense. There are layers and layers of aromas that range from ripe blackberries to tobacco and cedar. The palate is loaded with blackberries and black cherries with hints of vanilla, spice and dried rosemary. It is a wine to age but it can also be enjoyed alongside steak today.

Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder 2021 ($125). Winemaker Chris Carpenter is a master of mountain-grown wines. His Mt. Brave merlot demonstrates why elevation is important to this grape variety. This cabernet sauvignon from vineyards perched as high as 1,800 feet is colossal with dense blueberry and dark berry notes and a dash of graphite that shows a sense of place.

Acumen PEAK Edcora Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 ($175).  This producer is making extraordinary yet approachable wines from vineyards on Atlas Peak. Floral, wild berry notes with concentrated dark fruit and graphite flavors.

J. Davis Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain 2021 ($140). Juicy black fruit flavors betray the serious depth of this opulent and full-bodied monster.

Smith-Madrone Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 ($50-60). From Spring Mountain District, this luscious wine has red and black fruit notes with integrated tannins. It is blended with cabernet franc and merlot.

Mount Veeder Estate Merlot 2022 ($125). This mountain winery’s merlot is among the best in this varietal category.  Full bodied with plum and black cherry notes, fine tannins and good structure.

Wines for the gridiron

https://www.freepik.com/premium-photo/food-catering-cuisine-culinary-gourmet-party-cheers-concept_2707185.htm#fromView=image_search&page=1&position=9&uuid=ee34405a-4e7e-4f67-86d7-c840df5cb247&query=wine+partyWeekends now mean one thing in our house: a giant TV screen, the roar of the crowd, and the satisfying result of a perfectly thrown spiral hitting a receiver’s hands. It doesn’t matter if you bleed college colors or NFL team logos—autumn arrives with the first kickoff as reliably as December brings wrapped gifts under trees. We’ve learned to keep mealtime uncomplicated: a steaming bowl of chili, a juicy burger, or a delivered pizza that requires nothing more than napkin during commercial breaks. No one wants to be elbow-deep in dinner prep when the game-winning touchdown happens.

Wine, too, should be carefree. Perhaps there is a bottle from your team’s state—let’s hope it’s California, Oregon or New York. Or, perhaps, it’s a house favorite. No matter the crowd size or makeup, there’s a wine that will raise the spirits.

Fatty foods like pizza and ribs call for juicy reds. Zinfandel is an easy choice, although be conscious of its higher alcohol content. Syrah and grenache are good choices as well.

White wines with good acidity are good matches to salty foods, such as peanuts and chips. Consider New Zealand sauvignon blanc, Spanish albarino or Italian pinot grigio.  If red is your preference, a good sangiovese from Rioja is a good choice.

No matter what you choose, there is no need to spend a lot of money. It’s about the game. No one is going to pay attention to an expensive Bordeaux.

Zinfandel: Marrietta, Ravenswood, Bogle, 7 Deadly Zins, Rosenblum.

Sauvignon Blanc: Decoy, Rodney Strong, Murphy-Goode, Nobilo, Amici.

Albarino: La Cana, Martin Codax.

Ocala Wine Festival

The Ocala Wine Festival in Florida will be held Nov. 7-9 at the World Equestrian Center. The three-day event will feature culinary competition, beer, wine and spirits education and samples of special cuisine.  Proceeds for the event will benefit the Public Education Foundation of Marion County.

For more information, see https://worldequestriancenter.com/ocala-fl/events/foodandwinefest.

Wine picks

https://www.wine.com/product/mckinlay-willamette-valley-pinot-noir-2021/1150685
McCollum Heritage Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2021 (Wine.com)

Raeburn Winery Sonoma County Chardonnay 2023 ($20). This is a very good value that compelled us to buy a few bottles. Pear and apple notes dominate. The producer is even sponsoring a Gather & Grill Sweepstakes to bring people together. If you enter before Sept. 30, you’re eligible to win some very nice prizes. Visit raeburnwinery.com/sweepstakes for details.

McCollum Heritage Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2021 ($55). Juicy, fresh red fruit flavors with a hint of cinnamon and earth.

Taboadella 1255 Alfrocheiro Reserva Dao 2021 ($35). Alfrocheiro is an obscure indigeous grape variety discovered in the Dao region of Portugal after the phylloxera epidemic. It has the lightness and fruity characteristics of beaujolais. Delicate with fresh raspberry and cherry flavors.  Very special.

 

Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr, MoreAboutWine, posted on SouthFloridaReporter.com
Republished with permission
Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr have been writing a weekly wine column for more than 30 years. Additional Wine reviews on MoreAboutWine
All photos are randomly selected and do not indicate any preferred wine. Listed prices are subject to change and do not include tax or shipping.
You can send questions to Tom Marquardt
marq1948@gmail.com
Always drink responsibly
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Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr have been writing a wine column since 1985. They have traveled extensively to vineyards in France, Spain, Italy, Greece and the United States. Tom currently resides in Naples with his wife, Sue, where he conducts wine tastings. His web site is MoreAboutWine.com. Patrick is in the wine retail business in Annapolis, MD.