2018 Pennrose Grenache Shake Ridge Vineyard

Region: Shake Ridge Ranch < Sierra Foothills < California

Grapes: Grenache

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: organically farmed, red, iron-rich soil soil, 50% whole cluster fermentation; aged in neutral barrel, bottled unfined/unfiltered with minimal added So2; 13.4% ABV

Winemakers: Mike Penn + Ria Diversa

Pennrose owners and winemakers, husband and wife team Mike Penn and Ria Diversa, met while studying viticulture and hold down day jobs as the winemaker for Green + Red (Mike) and farming manager for McEvoy Ranch (Ria). Pennrose is their passion project, committed to responsible farming, and small production wines that show the diversity of California terroir.  

The Grenache for this wine comes from the Shake Ridge Ranch vineyard above Sutter Creek in the Sierra Foothills, a site that expresses the warm summer days that cool quickly with evening mountain air to provide ripeness and structure. This vineyard is farmed by the legendary Ann Kraemer, who is pioneering a renaissance of quality and holistic practices in the Sierra Foothills.  Here's what Ria says about this site and the wine: "We are so lucky to continue our collaboration with grower Ann Kraemer, who manages this unique site of undulating red soils in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. With each vintage that has passed we have finely tuned our harvest decision and production techniques, while slightly improving on our decisions. We are so pleased with the rose and pear perfume of this wine, its bright and juicy texture and body, and the delicate and structured tannins that were extracted from the 50 percent inclusion of the stems and unbroken whole-cluster grape bunches."

Anne's careful farming combined with Mike and Ria's early picking and low-intervention work in the cellar helps this wine, which could easily become a heavy fruit bomb, find the light, bright side to Grenache with a soft palate of juicy strawberries, rose petals and earth.  A serious, fruit-forward wine for the fall dinner table.