Varietal:Sauvignon Blanc
Appellation:California, Mendocino, Yorkville Highlands
Style:Dry White
Price:$14
WOW Rating:88

A crisp complex mix of bright citrus and delicate herbal, this white wine is well suited for most any food pairing. “We are one of the twelve original vineyards to be certified organic, since 1986,” says founder Edward Wallo. For more information, or to arrange to visit this winery (located about 100 miles north of San Francisco), go to www.yorkville-cellars.com. The vineyard is located in southern Mendocino County between Anderson Valley to the west and Alexander Valley to the east.

Over 25% of Mendocino County’s wine grapes (more than 3,800 acres) are farmed organically. Less than 3% of vineyards in Napa County and less than 1% in Sonoma County are farmed using organic methods. Certified organic farmers are prohibited from using synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. They use cover crops to build soil fertility and they fight pests with organic “soaps” or by using biological controls. Farming grapes organically is often more expensive than conventional farming and, according to Yorkville Cellars’ Wallo, “means that you have to tend each grape vine individually, not by a spraying schedule.”

Try this wine with an array of hard cheeses from Italy or Spain. A fun match would be roasted garlic spread on toast. Bobby Flay’s simple recipe is to cut off the bud end of the clove, rub the head with olive oil and wrap in foil. Roast at 300 degrees for 45 minutes or until soft.

Tags: Alexander Valley, cellars, Darryl Beeson's Review, Review, sauvignon blanc mendocino, southern Mendocino, wine, yorkville

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