Alban Vineyards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alban Vineyards is a California wine estate producing various Rhône style blends and varietal wines. The winery is located in Edna Valley, near Arroyo Grande in the southern corner of San Luis Obispo County.
| Alban Vineyards | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | Edna Valley, USA |
| Coordinates | 35°11′04.6″N 120°33′12.3″W |
| Appellation | Edna Valley AVA |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Key people | John Alban, winemaker |
| Cases/yr | 5,000 |
| Known for | Lorraine Vineyard Reva Vineyard Syrah Seymour's Vineyard Syrah Pandora |
| Varietals | Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Viognier, Mourvèdre |
| Other products | dessert wine |
| Distribution | limited |
| Website | www.albanvineyards.com |
History
John Alban attended Vassar College and graduated in 1983[1] and completed his Master's Degree in oenology at UC Davis.[2] He apprenticed in France and was trained by Jacques Raynaud of Château Rayas.[3]
Starting in 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989.[4] With a focus on creating wines made from Rhône Valley varietals, Alban came to be a pioneer of the Rhone Rangers movement, and is considered one of the most influential American Rhone producers.[5][6][7]
On beginning to grow Viognier, Alban stated "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres (20 ha) in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieu and Château-Grillet.[8] Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the variety was near extinction.[9]
Production
Within a 250-acre (100 ha) area, the vineyard area extends 60 acres (24 ha),[10] planted with varieties Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. Among the wines produced are the Lorraine Vineyard, Reva Vineyard Syrah, Seymour's Vineyard Syrah, and Pandora, a blend of Grenache and Syrah.[6] There has also been produced a dessert wine with ca. 5% botrytis grapes and aged in 50% new oak, named Rotten Luck.[11]