Rockpile

I decided to take your classic "Sunday Drive" this morning. What prompted me was last night's Wine Club release party at Mauritson. Rick talked extensively about Lake Sonoma and the Rockpile AVA  a few weeks back. 

After meeting most of the Mauritson crew including the winemaker, Clay,his brother Cameron (Andrew's friend) and the Cellar Master, Matt, we got to try more Rockpile wines and snack on some tasty hors d'oeuvres.  They were pouring the Cemetery Vineyard Zin. So delicious that Chris & Robin took home a case. 

So, this morining I hopped in the truck and 20 minutes later I was approaching the massive earth-fill Warm Springs Dam. Construction of this dam began in 1967 but delays (that wonderful red tape) had the project going until the early '80s.

A pretty spectacular result! I was only 22 miles from Robin's house, only 30 minutes into my Sunday Drive when I reached the Rockpile AVA. 

My truck has time and temp but not elevation. The state park ranger told me I was 1200 feet up. Wouldn't you know, right after I tumbled down the hill from that Rockpile sign, a Mauritson truck full of Zin rumbled passed me. 

The vineyards in this AVA are parked in every nook & cranny; snaking along ridges and climbing up steep slopes just to plunge back down a valley. It is mind-boggling to think about what it takes to work these vineyards. They have to be a minimum 800 feet in elevation although more than 95% are over 1000 feet, with some as high as 2100 feet.  Without bogging you down in too much detail, the gist of this AVA (american viticulture area) is clusters of smaller-berried, intense fruit. 
Minutes before you make the turn into the Lake Sonoma visitors center is Sbragia Family Vineyards. You can see Warm Springs Dam looming right from their tasting room. I have to go do Ramey's red wine  pumpovers now. Perhaps I'll have more time later to tell you about my visit to this long-time California winemaking legend. 
All this in less than 90 minutes! What a country.