Quivira Sauvignon Blanc, Fig Tree Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, California
Cost: $17-19
What: A powerful aroma of lime and grapefruit leap out of the glass, preparing you for the fresh grapefruit and tropical fruit taste. A very refreshing, complex wine. The vineyard is named for a 130-year-old Mission fig tree that stands among the vines located where Dry Creek and Wine Creek come together. The well-drained soil has an extensive gravel layer, giving the grapes a distinctive taste. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks, a departure from previous vintages. It serves to concentrate the characteristic crisp mineral and citrus taste of the sauvignon blanc.
The Winery: Quivira (pronounced key-VEER-ah) is a family owned winery practicing organic and biodynamic farming processes in the heart of Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. They specialize in Dry Creek’s outstanding varietals: zinfandel and sauvignon blanc, as well as some Rhone style wines. The name comes from early Spanish explorers, who thought there was a region called Quivira Regnum, where everyone ate from plates of gold.
Goes with: Oysters, crab, salmon and many other kinds of seafood; artichoke dip, roasted or grilled chicken, or some mildly acidic cheeses like sharp cheddar, Chevre or Pecorino.
Reach Dennis Sodomka at dsodomka@knology.net. Read his column on the wines of Chile in the January issue of Augusta Magazine.
