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- Winemaker: Joseph Ryan
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Varieties: Petite Arvine
- Farming: Sustainable with Organic Practices
- Terroir / Soils: Alder Springs Vineyard is known for producing exceptional fruit, specifically focusing on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Rhone red and white varietals on its 6,000-acre ranch (only about 140 acres are planted) in Northern Mendocino, just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and ranging from 1,700 to 2,700 feet of elevation.
- Vinification: Gently press the fruit into neutral French oak puncheon barrels. 1-year sur lie for slow fermentation and malolactic conversion on native yeast.
From our 2024 Explore Like A Somm Bottle Cult Release:
Edaphos by Ernest Vineyards, Petite Arvine, Alder Springs Vineyard, Mendocino, CA 2021
You can't craft exceptional wine without an exceptional terroir—the perfect blend of soil, sunshine, weather, and land stewardship. Alder Springs Vineyard, situated three hours north of San Francisco and 12 miles east of the Pacific coast, is a meticulously cared-for vineyard in far north Mendocino County. Stuart Bewle planted this vineyard in 1993 after an extensive search across Northern California for the perfect land to cultivate various grapes ideally suited to the rolling hills. The hard work paid off, and the 144-acre Alder Springs Vineyard has become the primary source of fruit for some of our favorite small-production California producers: Rhys, Cruse Wine Co., Arnot-Roberts, Las Jaras, Y. Rousseau, Pax, Bedrock, and, of course, Ernest Vineyards’ Edaphos label.
Erin Brooks founded Ernest Vineyards and Winery in 2012 to produce world-class wines from cool-climate vineyards. Winemaker Joseph Ryan crafts outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the estate's West Sonoma Coast vineyards, but he gets to unleash his creativity with Ernest’s second label, Edaphos. Edaphos, translating to soil in Greek, is where Joseph can source intriguing, alternative grape varieties from new terroirs and explore winemaking techniques that may not be suitable for the estate Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. Enter Petite Arvine.
Petite Arvine is an extraordinary variety originating in Valais, Switzerland, and found only in small pockets of cool-climate regions, including the Val d’Aosta in the Italian Alps. In youth, Petite Arvine can be bright and quaffable but truly reveals itself after a few years in the bottle. Naturally high in tannin with thick, cold-climate skins, this white wine offers texture and phenolic richness when made with intention. Joseph gently presses the fruit into neutral French oak puncheon barrels, allowing the wine to rest over a full year on its lees for slow fermentation and malolactic conversion on native yeast.
Upon bottling, the wine is rich and round—gorgeous. Notice aromas of Anjou pear, honey, and blood orange, with a light herbal tone of mint and tarragon. We can still taste the crystalline, alpine roots in this Petite Arvine, but she’s adapting nicely to the California sunshine! Enjoy it on its own or try it with grilled branzino with lemon and capers, smoked trout on toast, white pizza with mushrooms, or, pretend you’re in Switzerland and melt a wheel of raclette over potatoes! —Cara Patricia