Chalone Vineyard is located in the Chalone AVA south of San Francisco, California, United States, on an unusual geological formation called the Gavilan benchland. The soil is rich in limestone and calcium carbonate and also contains a significant amount of decomposed granite. Chalone is situated in an arid chaparral environment, in which temperatures can vary as much as 60F° in one day. The climate is very dry, only 12 to 14 inches of rain fall per year. These factors combine to create a unique terroir, the signature profile of a wine growing region.
History
The original vineyard was planted in the 1890s by a Frenchman, Charles L. Tamm, who thought the soil similar to that in Burgundy. In 1964, the property was purchased by new owners with a commitment to producing fine wine. Under the guidance of California wine pioneer Richard H. Graff, the vineyard expanded when new vineyards were planted and the winery was moved from a converted chicken shed to a bigger location adjacent to where a newer (and much larger) winery stands today.
Graff wanted to establish a Burgundian-Style, top-flight Chardonnay, and with his brothers, John Graff and Peter Watson-Graff, began producing some of the earliest barrel-fermented and aged wines in the United States. In addition to introducing California to oak barrels, Graff brought to California the process of malolactic fermentation in white wines. In 1971 he was joined by Phillip Woodward and the two began what would later become the Chalone Wine Group.
Chalone Vineyard achieved third rank out of ten from France and the U.S. in the historic Judgment of Paris wine competition. All 11 judges awarded their top scores to either Chalone Vineyard or Chateau Montelena, also of California.
Chalone grew and prospered with first Peter Watson-Graff, then Michael Michaud as winemaker. During this time the Chalone brand expanded to include six wineries in California and two in Washington. Today The wineries produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah under the Acacia, Canoe Ridge, Chalone, Echelon, Jade Mountain, Sagelands Vineyard, and Edna Valley labels. Chalone Wine Group also owns about 24% of the Chateau Duhart-Milon estate in France. In 1998, Dan Karlsen was named winemaker and general manager and much of the vineyard was replanted using the latest research on rootstock and clones and the entire vineyard was retrellised. In 2005, Chalone Wine Group was purchased by beverage giant Diageo.
See also
Source
- Taber, George M. Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting that Revolutionized Wine. NY: Schribner, 2005.
- Woodward, Phillip and Walter, Gregory S. Chalone: A Journey on the Wine Frontier. Sonoma, CA: Carneros Press, 2000.