However, records show the name has been used since at least 1518 and what’s more, Primitivo derives from the Latin for early, while Tribidrag derives from the Croatian for early – they are both early ripening grapes.īien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley – photo courtesy of the vineyard. Crljenak Kaštelanski and Tribidrag are as alike as different clones of Pinot Noir, or Tempranillo and Tinto Fino, but Tribidrag is the more common name, although not much of it is left, so it too is obscure. In 2011 the researchers discovered another match, this time with a grape called Tribidrag which is also used on the Dalmatian coast. The vine was known as Crljenak Kaštelanski, or ‘the red grape of Kaštela’. This find narrowed the search down and in 2001 a vine that matched Zinfandel’s DNA was discovered in a single vineyard in Kaštel Novi north west of Split on the Croatian coast. The other parent was Dobričić, an incredibly obscure Croatian grape that only grows on the Dalmatian island of Šolta. That was all we knew until the 1990s when DNA testing discovered that Zinfandel was identical to the Primitivo that is widely used in Puglia, the heel of Italy.įurther investigation and DNA work then discovered that Primitivo/Zinfandel were one of the parents of the Plavac Mali grape which is used on Croatia’s Dalmation coast. Records show that it was taken from the Austrian Imperial nursery in Vienna to Boston and was originally sold as a table grape in New England, but destiny called when cuttings were shipped to California to take advantage of the boom caused by the Gold Rush in 1849. The wine is a Zinfandel and it is worth me giving you a little background on the grape variety from a piece that I wrote a couple of years ago:Īs far as we can tell, the grape that became Zinfandel was taken to the eastern United States from Europe in the 1820’s – long before the annexation of California. I was fortunate enough to taste one the other day and I enjoyed it so much and it is so delicious – and perfect for the icy weather we are having right now – that I have made it my Wine of the Week. So while it is always a struggle to feed my love of California wine, there are some high quality bargains out there. Yes, there are huge amounts of very everyday stuff that is barely worth drinking – you know the brands, while the fabulous wines that gave California its fame tend to be ludicrously expensive once they arrive in the UK – actually in the US too come to think of it. Therefore it pains me that it is so hard to enjoy California wines here in the UK.
As a consequence I have loved California wines pretty much all my working life. As a consequence I had opportunities to taste some amazing California wine while at a young and impressionable age. The city of Napa and the city of Sonoma are only 14 miles apart, but with Sonoma County and Napa Valley showcasing their own unique climatic conditions, landscapes, and wine styles, the two regions tend to feel much further away from each other.One of my very early jobs was working for the late Geoffrey Roberts who was an early champion of the wines of California and Australia in the UK. Helena or Calistoga in the northern part of Napa Valley, you can expect an additional 20 – 30 minutes of drive time. Located just 50 miles apart, it typically takes an hour to drive from San Francisco to the city of Napa, situated in the southernmost part in the valley. How far is it from San Francisco to Napa Valley?.
While the Napa County Airport (APC) is the closest, the other airports are generally within an hour’s drive. Napa Valley is located an hour north of San Francisco and is easily accessible from five different area airports: SFO, OAK, STS, SMF, and APC. What is the best airport to fly into for Napa Valley?.Private tours with Beau Wine Tours or Pure Luxury Transportation make it easy to experience several wineries in one day. While you can walk between tasting rooms in downtown Napa, the majority of Napa Valley’s wineries are spread throughout the region and best visited by car, train, bicycle, trolley, or limo. From the historic to the modern, wineries with hilltop views to ones nestled among the vineyards, each winery offers something unique and memorable.
Napa Valley is home to over 400 wineries, most of which are family owned. How many wineries are there in Napa Valley?.Helena, Rutherford, and Oakville, with the southernmost city of Napa being the largest and most well-known. Napa Valley is located 50 miles northeast of San Francisco and consists of several destination-worthy towns, including Calistoga, St.
0 kommentar(er)
