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CALIFORNIA
WINES
To
get here, take Highway 101 north from San Francisco about 75 miles
until you see the signs for Healdsburg. Then take the Westside Road
exit, and go west, (left) until you see the Belvedere Winery sign
at 4035 Westside Road. The winemaking team at Sierra Vista consists of two people; founder John MacCready, and his daughter Michelle. Michelle trained with her father, and expanded her winemaking skills at renowned vineyards in Napa Valley and Australia. The Sierra Vista Vineyards are located forty-five miles west of Lake Tahoe in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The thirty-one acres of grapes are grown on mountainous terrain which varies from steeply inclined hillsides to fertile ridge tops at altitudes up to 2,900 feet. Each variation of elevation and terrain create unique micro-climates, enabling the winemakers to craft 18-20 award winning, limited production wines from the 10 varieties grown. Extensive
studies made in the early years showed the climate and terrain of
Sierra Vista to be very similar to that of the Northern Rhône
valley of France. That was the major factor in deciding to focus
on grapes of the Rhône. Due to John MacCready's extensive
and widely recognized knowledge of Rhône grapes, he was appointed
the founding president of the Rhône
Rangers, an association of over 130 Rhône style wineries www.rhonerangers.org. |
WINE
TASTING IN NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY
Finally, there are the exceptional wines produced at the Belvedere
Winery. Belvedere makes seven varieties of wine, which include:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer
and Pinot Noir. These wines are grown in one of the four vineyards
owned by Belvedere: Grist and Wine Creek, Trenton-Healdsburg, and
the Estate Vineyard. Come and taste these wonderful, flavorful wines
while sitting in the garden, and gazing at the picturesque views
of the Russian River Valley, with the spectacular sight of Mount
St. Helena in the background.
Sierra Vista Winery is one of the first premium wineries to be established
in this rediscovered region. In 1972, John and Barbara MacCready
purchased land in El Dorado County near
Placerville. At an elevation of 2,800 feet, the winery they founded
is one of the highest in California. Starting from a production
of 1,200 cases in 1977, it has grown to a total output of 8,000
cases today.