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Paso Robles Winemaker Featured at FreeWeekly.comThursday, August 17, 2006Mediterranean grape varieties have emerged from obscurity to star status in only a few years. If you think this topic is new to you, consider that the ubiquitous shiraz grape (called syrah in its native France ), is one of them. And there are many more.Most grape varieties native to the Mediterranean aren't well known. The white viognier grape flirted with stardom about ten years ago, but was soon eclipsed, first by Italy 's pinot grigio, then by New Zealand 's unique style of sauvignon blanc. Roussanne is as important as viognier in the south of France, but is even less known elsewhere. Mat Garretson of Garretson Wine Company specialized in a segment of Mediterranean grapes called "Rhone varietals", basically the aforementioned grapes plus a few others, which are from the Rhone River Valley in southeastern France near and in Provence . His grapes are from a part of California called the Central Coast , specifically the town of Paso Robles and the area around it. Paso Robles is in northern San Luis Obispo County , about halfway down the California coastline. The vineyards closest to the ocean, some only six miles from the water, enjoy a somewhat cooler climate than those farther away. Highway 101 is often used as a convenient east-west dividing line. Hot days, cool nights, and the widest day/night temperature swing in California . Also, the first rainfall of the fall rainy season is typically about two weeks later than Napa or Sonoma , giving a longer "hang time" or fall ripening period. More hang time gives the grapes more time to develop flavors. Garretson's G White 2005 is softly dry, richly textured, and complex, with aromas and flavors of white peach, lime and honeysuckle (often tasted in viognier). It's a delicious combination of viognier's subtle complexity and roussanne's depth. Article: Garretson "G" White 2005 California (Paso Robles) 50.4% Viognier , 49.6% Roussanne Website: www.garretsonwines.com Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine |
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