Anderson
Valley has become the home of quite an impressive array of name Wineries
over the past twenty years or so. This is not all that surprising when
one considers that the Valley is located on Highway 128 and that the lower
end of Highway 128 runs through the finest grape growing region in the
United States. Starting as Hwy 29 at Napa, the road becomes Hwy 128 and
goes through Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Calistoga,
Alexander Valley, Healdsburg, Geyserville, Cloverdale etc. until it reaches
the Anderson Valley.
What
is so special about these areas? You would have to go to the choicest
vine growing regions of Europe to equal them. Even then you might not
be able to equal them. That is important. It has been important in Europe
for a thousand years and it is important here.
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"Our
Anderson Valley wines are known for the rare quality the French
call 'nerveux'..." |
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Important,
because from a wine standpoint, these are special areas. Special because
they can grow Vitus Vinifera, the root stock from which the best of the
European style wines come. You can't grow this in most places. You hear
a lot about wine glut. And every year, worldwide, there is a glut of average
quality grapes. Meanwhile, there is always a shortage of truly superior
fruit. The truth is, there will never be enough 'ultra-premium' quality
grapes being grown. This is due to the fact that there is not enough premium
land to produce ultra-premium grapes to service high-end wine drinking
demand. Like it or not, the Valley grows fine grapes on premium land.
But there is more.
Our Anderson
Valley wines are known for the rare quality the French call "nerveux",
a vibrant intensity of fruit without the jam like character and high alcohol
that come with excessive ripeness in warmer regions. This is described
by Rod Smith in his article, "Behind the Redwood Curtain". He
explains that, because the Valley angles southeast, unlike the east-west
valleys of the Central Coast, we are buffeted from the full oceanic influence
by the narrow throat of dense forest in Navarro, yet we still get just
enough fog to cool us. "Behind this redwood curtain, and protected
by a seaward flank of high forested ridges the Valley basks in a charmed
climate" which mimics one that should be ten-degrees higher in latitude,
but isn't. This means we get a high level of solar intensity without intense
heat.
Somewhere
along the line, because of all this, we turned a corner. We could have
stayed like Covelo or become another Lakeport, but we didn't. We are becoming
something else. Not that long ago we were fighting over the loggers cutting
down too many of those Redwood trees. Now, we are fighting over the vineyards
planting too many grapes and depleting the water supply for the whole
Valley. Next it will be an invasion of wealthy outsiders come for their
piece of paradise.
| "...this
will be a continuing trend as more and more people try and escape
what I call, 'the blast zone.'" |
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It will be
hard to blame these newest settlers because the Valley is one of the last
unspoiled places left in California, if not the country. It is the quintessential
small town community that everybody says they are looking for. Rural post
offices, family run businesses, and lots of country landscapes. It's also
a pretty good place to hide out. We have our share of writers, artists,
famous people, and god knows who else, rumoring their way through the
area.
The Valley
used to be a country place for locals and a summer encampment for resort
guests and kids camps. Then the vineyards showed up. Lately, weekend and
retirement homes have appeared. It seems like this will be a continuing
trend as more and more people try and escape what I call, "the blast zone."
First they
will establish a vacation home here and visit. Then they will sell their
city home and move into that vacation home. This second home will now
be their main residence and many will then establish a new second home
in the city. I see it happening already. These new city homes are usually
condos or live/work lofts that they buy -- but I know one couple that
bought a boat instead of a condo. They keep it in the city for weekends,
and spend their weekdays at their country place, which used to be... well,
you get the idea.
So what does
all this mean for the Valley? In a word, upscale. We are going upscale,
like it or not, because these new residents will want amenities. And a
lot of people are not going to like our having amenities.
I'm reminded
of those aboriginal tribes someone is always studying. After they start
studying them it is not too long before the tribe is wearing wristwatches.
Get ready for wristwatches folks because, whether you like it or not,
they are coming... real fast.
