Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/twoway/public_html/food/wineday/wd0997/wd091997.html on line 10
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/wd0997/wd091997.html on line 10
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/wd0997/wd091997.html on line 10
by Fred McMillin
for September 19, 1997
Winery of the Week |
Just Say Callaway
Prologue:
- 1969—Ely Callaway knew a lot about textiles; after all, he was president of the world's largest producer, Burlington Industries. However, he claimed to know nothing about wine, which he promptly demonstrated by planting 100 acres of vines in Southern California, where it is generally too hot and too dry for premium wine grapes.
- Jan. 1997—Callaway Calla-Lees Chardonnay ranks sixth in national sales volume of super-premium Chardonnays.
Temecula's biggest winery is Callaway, and Callaway's biggest wine is their Chardonnay, from some 500 acres of estate vines. Part of the success is due to the fact that phylloxera doesn't like the area...so vines grow on their own rootstock and survive nicely. Even more important is Vice President-Winemaker Dwayne Helmuth's decision to emphasize the grape flavors by unusually low fermentation temperatures, a 44 degrees for the 1996. The flavors are intensified by extended contact with the fermetation sediment called "lees." It works so well that Dwayne uses no oak contact at all. with sales of over 100,000 cases a year, Dwayne doesn't plan on changing the procedure.
Just The Facts
| Name | Callaway Vineyard and Winery |
| Location | Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Production | First year: 16,000 cases; now 250,000. |
| Vineyards | 720 acres (500 Chardonnay) |
| Winemaker | Dwayne Helmuth |
| 1981 Milestones | a) Dwayne joins Callaway b) First year that Calla-Lees is produced c)Hiram Walker buys the winery and makes $3.5 million upgrade. |
| Other Wines | My panel has given particularly high ratings to the Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc. |
| Contact | Inez Ferrari, (707) 433-8268 |
| Food Affinities | Viognier: Sea Bass Wrapped with Crispy Potato Noodles; Chardonnay: Dungeness Crab Risotto (Inez might be able to get you copies of those recipies.) |
Postscript: Whence the name Temecula? The Indian name was Temeku, "the land where the sun shines through the white mist."
 |
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. |
Read more articles by Fred McMillin in the eGGsf
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
January WineDays
February WineDays
March WineDays
April WineDays
May WineDays
June WineDays
July WineDays
August WineDays
09/18/97
How Soda Canyon Won
09/17/97
Merlot Magic, for Only $10
09/16/97
Barbera Oompah-pah
09/15/97
Anderson Valley Pinots
09/12/97
Winery of the Week
St. Clement Vineyards
09/11/97
The Langtry Pedigree
09/10/97
A Riesling to Remember
09/09/97
Grgich Chardonnay, Up, Up and Away
09/08/97
Good Sports, Good Grapes
09/05/97
Winery of the Week
J. Lohr Winery
09/04/97
The Korbel Spell
09/03/97
Jed Knocks 'Em Dead
09/02/97
Hot Rocks
09/01/97
Like Rogers and Astaire, Here's Another Perfect Pair
Copyright © 1997—the electronic Gourmet Guide, Inc. All rights reserved.