About 2017 Baileyana Firepeak Chardonnay:
The Chardonnay from Baileyana’s Firepeak blocks is unique in many ways. The cool climate, long growing season of the Edna Valley, and the unique soil profile found on the Baileyana estate allow for intense varietal flavor, optimum ripeness all while preserving their trademark energetic acidity.
Tasting Notes:
Smooth, crisp, and juicy with tangy, fresh flavors of bright pear and a soft vanilla undertone; balanced, long, and delicious.
Growing Notes:
The coolest growing region in all of California, as cited in a study by Southern Oregon University, the Edna Valley is a mere 5.4 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Consequently, the extended growing season allows grapes grown here to develop intense and complex varietal flavors, while achieving optimum maturity levels. Known as the “Dirt of the Devil,” the soils in the northern portion of the valley are also unique. As Islay Hill is the most southern sibling in a chain of extinct volcanoes known as the Seven Sisters, volcanic remnants are combined with clay loam and rocky marine sediment, offering a distinct mix of nutrients and good drainage.
Harvest Dates: October 2017
About The Winery:
Great wines may start with the fruit, but ultimately the winemaker has the final say. Thankfully for Baileyana, the man behind every great bottle of their wine is the immensely talented Rob Takigawa. Rob has worked with them for 19 years, starting as the Tank Room Manager, working up to Assistant winemaker, then Winemaker, and now Director of Winemaking. This year will bring his 20th vintage of working with fruit from their vineyards.
Jack Niven pioneered winegrape planting with Paragon Vineyard in the Edna Valley in 1973. Not the bystander type, his wife Catharine soon after began a project that grew into what is now Baileyana Winery. In the mid 1990s, their two sons, James and John, purchased property next door, and expanded Paragon Vineyard. They designed and planted these new blocks with select clones, varieties and rootstocks specific to the site. They named this section Firepeak, in homage of the extinct volcanoes in the area, and the resulting volcanic soils
Rob and his team are dedicated to furthering the vision of the original founders, Jack and Catharine Niven, who came to San Luis Obispo in the early 1970’s to plant a vineyard in a valley that was, at the time, only known for its dairy farms and garbanzo beans. As a Central Coast local and Cal Poly graduate with a degree in soil science, Rob is in many ways the perfect man to continue the Niven’s legacy. When not making wine he enjoys surfing, traveling with his family, and coaching his children’s sports teams.