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You
can call it a cliché. You may even think it’s
slightly corny. Be that as it may, Fumé Blanc is at
the heart of Dry Creek Vineyard. As second
generation proprietor Kim Stare Wallace said in a
recent posting on her
blog – “truly, I can’t
remember a time when Fumé Blanc hasn’t been the
backbone of our business, our dinner table, and our
family.”
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French Inspired |
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The story of how and why Fumé
Blanc has become such an integral part of
Dry Creek Vineyard is an interesting one.
To start at the beginning, you need to
rewind the tape and go back to the days when
winery founder, David Stare, was traveling
through the Loire Valley region of France.
It was during these travels that Dave
developed a passion and taste for the wines
of this region – in particular those of the
small villages of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Dave recalls his trip in the same way
he might discuss a long lost love. “Those
wines really made a deep impression on me,”
says Dave. “It was more than just the fruit
and flavor – it was |
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as if the bottle of wine was
expressing the magic of the vineyard. It
was a profound experience.” Heading back
to the states, enlightened and full of
passion, Dave began to think about the
possibility of starting his own Loire Valley
chateau. “I was going to start my winery in
France. Fortunately, for the French, I read
a story about the burgeoning wine industry
in California and decided to head west to
pursue my dream.” |
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Heading West - For points unknown |
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With little knowledge of winemaking or viticulture,
Dave packed up his young family (who were living in
Boston at the time) and made their way to
California. Upon his arrival, Dave enrolled as a
graduate student in the University of
California at Davis enology and viticulture
program. While learning the ropes of winemaking,
he spent time searching for just the right piece of
land. On a sunny, Sunday afternoon, while scouring
the north coast, Dave stumbled across the Dry Creek
Valley in Sonoma County. After some research, he
learned that there was a 55-acre prune orchard for sale
in the heart of the valley. With some creative
financing and a firm handshake, a deal was struck,
and the founding of Dry Creek Vineyard became a
reality. |
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A Piece of the Loire |
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As prune trees were ripped out to make way for
vineyards, Dave began consulting with several top
viticulturists in the area. With his
passion for Sauvignon Blanc firmly entrenched, he
inquired about the possibility of planting his
favorite varietal. The reaction he
received was not favorable. “They told me I
was crazy,” Dave recalls. “But I knew what I
wanted, so I thanked them for their efforts and went
ahead and planted my first Sauvignon Blanc vineyard
– I called it
DCV3 (Dry Creek Vineyard #3). Not
the most glamorous or creative name, but it got the
job done.” Little did he know at the
time, that he was spearheading a massive viticultural awakening in the Dry Creek Valley.
As the first person to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the
Dry Creek, Dave paved the way for |
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Dave
and daughter Kim breaking ground in
1972 |
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what would
become one of the best known appellations in
California.
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It's Called Fumé Blanc |
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Since that first vintage in 1972, Dry Creek Vineyard
has produced a dry style Sauvignon Blanc modeled
after a Loire Valley white – and called it
Fumé
Blanc. That credit goes to Robert Mondavi over in
Napa who renamed his Sauvignon Blanc, calling it
Fumé Blanc because of its tie to more expensive
French counterparts. You can read the
True Story
here.
Over the years, winemakers have come and gone.
However, one thing remains consistent at Dry Creek
Vineyard – the house style of Fumé Blanc. Always
fresh, crisp and inviting, the wine is immediately
appealing for its citrus fruit character and bright
beam of acidity. The wine displays subtle aromas of
mineral and crushed stone that harken back to those
wines of the Loire. Finally, and perhaps most
importantly, the wine NEVER sees any oak. Why?
Because, by using stainless steel fermentation the
wine maintains that refreshing zippiness - a
hallmark of Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc – now and
for years to come.
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