How Vineyards Get Their Names
Sometimes, owners or winemakers name vineyards after loved ones. Wives, daughters, dearly cherished but departed grandparents, pets…
I met a lady from Fess Parker Winery the other day who said one vineyard was named after Fess’s daughter and one after his wife. The first, Ashley’s Vineyard, is still doing well, making one of their highly regarded Chardonnays. The wife’s vineyard, however, has fallen by the wayside. I asked in alarm if they were divorced, but she said they were still very much in love. Just a matter of location.
Speaking of location, it can also determine how to name certain vineyards. Porter Creek Winery in the Russian River Valley is itself named accroding to setting–after the nearby tributary. Then some of the wines are also designated by place, as with the Hillside Vineyard Pinot Noir.
Sometimes when location seems the obvious choice, it can cause problems with trademarks. Here’s a case in point in Missoula, MT. A couple there was making wine under the Rattlesnake Creek name, until another winery in Washinton that had been making a wine under a similar name– but for much longer–demanded they stop. Now it’s called Ten Spoons. Here’s a more of the story. If memory serves, my friend Kyle brought over some of their Sauvignon Blanc when I was last in Montana, and it was suprisingly good.
But my favorites are the names with really good stories behind them. For instance, one of our estate Chardonnay vineyards started out with Dr. Fogarty asking friends and family to join him in the planting of the vines. When everyone showed up, they found out he had gone to catch fish instead. So the Albutom Vineyard had to be planted by “all but Tom.”
I made him a shirt recently with the picture below, including the caption underneath.
So not only does vineyard designation usually indicate higher quality, in the special attention to detail and decision to bottle it separately, but often you get some insight into the personality of those making the wine.
….Farley Walker
vineyard names, Fess Parker Winery, Porter Creek Winery, Albutom Vineyard
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