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by Fred McMillin
for October 4, 2000

 

Field Stone Makes Way For Chardonnay


Prologue

Convivio Chardonnay 
Cabernet Sauvignon is Field Stone's principal wine, and Petite Sirah the most individual wine.

...Stephen Brook, The Wines of California, 1999)

Field Stone's [best-known] wines are Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.

...Charles Sullivan, Companion To California Wine, 1998)


The Rest of the Story

Alright, Field Stone made it's reputation with reds. But proprietor Dr. John Staten put an end to that red-only image. You can't find better California Chardonnay grapes than in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts. So those are the sources of Dr. Staten's Chardonnay.

Great, but can my budget handle it? Would you believe, there's an eight dollar model! Winning Best Buy in my last S.F. State University wine class, it is our...


Wine of the Day

Field Stone Convivio Chardonnay, Sonoma County, 1998
Rating—A relatively light, easy-drinking Chardonnay, to enjoy at home with fish and fowl,("Convivio" means "feast" in Italian.) Best Buy of Tasting. RECOMMENDED.
Contact- Dr. Roger Hull at l-800-54GRAPE, FAX (707) 433-2231.
Price—$8!!


Postscript

Recount! Recount! Field Stone is located in the Alexander Valley, named after pioneer settler Cyrus Alexander. In the Feb. 8, 1999 WineDay titled "A Grander Alexander", I wrote that among other contributions, he built a frame schoolhouse for the education of his seven children and those of his neighbors.

Don Naples e-mailed us the following which I will paraphrase.

    You wrote that Cyrus and Ruphena Alexander had seven children. I live in the former home of George Alexander, who was their tenth and last child.

    Only five of the ten children lived to maturity. They were Margaret, Joseph, Caroline, Thomas and George. I hope this addition information is useful to you."

Thanx much, Don.
All facts greatly appreciated.

Credits:
Research Assistance—Judy and Joe Lorentz

 

About the Writer

Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents. In 1995, the Academy of Wine Communications honored Fred with one of only 22 Certificates of Commendation awarded to American wine writers. For information about the wine courses he teaches every month at either San Francisco State University or San Francisco City College (Fort Mason Division), please fax him at (415) 567-4468.
 
 

 
 

This page created October 2000