Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/twoway/public_html/food/wineday/wd0298/wd020998.html on line 19 Warning: include(http://globalgourmet.com/includes/banner468.html) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/twoway/public_html/food/wineday/wd0298/wd020998.html on line 19 Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://globalgourmet.com/includes/banner468.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/twoway/public_html/food/wineday/wd0298/wd020998.html on line 19
by Fred McMillin for February 9, 1998 Chalk Talk Prologue "Chalk is a soft and crumbly, highly porous type of pure white limestone. Chalk soils are valued in viticulture for their excellent drainage." ...J.M.H. in "The Oxford Companion to Wine" "Chalk Hill derives its name from the strata of light-colored soil covering much of the land." ...Frederick P. Furth, Proprietor of Chalk Hill Winery "We knew Chalk Hill Chardonnay had become a world-class wine when we sold out the 1990 in eight months." ...Diana Burnett, Marketing Manager of Chalk Hill at that time. The Rest of the Story So the secret of Chalk Hill's Chardonnay success is that layer of white limestone soil. Right? WRONG! Although that soil is white and DOES provide good drainage, it is NOT chalk...it is NOT limestone. A cooperating volcano laid down a thick layer of white ash that two million years later gave the area its name. The Wine 1995 Chardonnay, Appellation—Chalk Hill Chalk Hill Winery, Sonoma County Founding—San Francisco lawyer Furth bought the land at the east end of the Russian River Valley in 1972 and two years later started planting, including what today includes 136 acres of that prestigious Chardonnay. Founding of the Winery—Fred sold his first harvest in September of 1977. He quickly noted that half the money he was owed didn't arrive until the following February, and the other half in June. It was right then that Fred decided to build his own winery. Contact—Executive V.P. Marketing Jean Arnold, Phone—(707) 838-4306. Numbers—100% Chardonnay, 100% barrel fermented, 100% natural yeasts, 100% malolactic fermentation, 100% delicious. Price—$25 Postscript You'll notice there's nothing simple about this Chardonnay. That's because they have SEVENTEEN clones of Chardonnay planted on EIGHTEEN parcels of land, and each are made into wine separately before blending. There is, however, one drawback. Sometimes a batch or two does not meet their standards and are sold to others. In fact, about ten years ago, when they were learning fast about their various clones and microclimates, they sold off 20% of that Chardonnay vintage, which made the bean counters very unhappy...the cost of quality. About the Writer Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents. He currently teaches wine courses at San Francisco State and San Francisco City College and is Northern California Editor for American Wine on the Web. In 1995, the Academy of Wine Communications honored Fred with one of only 22 Certificates of Commendation awarded to American wine writers.	WineDay Annex More articles by Fred McMillin Welcome to WineDay, the electronic Gourmet Guide's daily update. Monday through Thursday, WineDay presents a wine profile. Then on Fridays we present the Winery of the Week to take you through the weekend Current WineDay 1997 WineDays January WineDays 02/06/98 Winery of the Week Menada of Bulgaria 02/05/98 Something's New Under the Sun 02/04/98 The Meritage Debate 02/03/98 A Musqué to Remember 02/02/98 Toast to Februarius
foodwine.com | Global Gourmet Today Copyright © 1998—the electronic Gourmet Guide, Inc. All rights reserved.