Rose Ranch

Sonoma Valley   

• Grenache

Grenache has a vigorous nature and is best grown in poor soils but needs some heat to ripen. When I visited the area in Southern France where it is grown, I was stunned by the rocky soil, particularly in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. On my tour at Château de Beaucastel I was shown their new tractors and vividly remember wondering what they do with them, just go out and rearrange the rocks? I thought of that visit when I went to Rose Ranch to look at their grenache. The vineyard is located just a few miles away in Kenwood at the base of the Mayacamas range near the entrance to Sugarloaf State Park. In what must be an old alluvial fan I was pleased to see rocks throughout the vineyard. Rose Ranch is also certified Biodynamically Farmed which just added to the interest.