2008-01-04
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards:
A Proud Heritage Moves Forward
by Charles Neave
Take a long family interest and involvement in growing grapes and making wine, a commitment to excellence, style and refinement at every level, and then throw in those intangibles that make a winery a little more special, and the result? Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, very near the southern gateway to Sonoma County Wine Country.
Starting a few years ago with a beautiful piece of property across the street from another iconic winery (with the same owners, by the way), Cline Cellars, the building that now houses the new winery slowly, carefully took shape. Today, it is a striking rustic stone structure done in the Italian style that goes back to the Jacuzzi family home in the Italian town of Udine. In fact this 18,000-square-foot building is meant to honor that family, Italian immigrants who made their way from northwest Italy to America in the early part of the last century to raise their children and make their fortune.
“Visitors to Jacuzzi Family Vineyards are in awe of the attention to detail given this magnificent Italian winery at the entrance to the Sonoma Valley. Many locals have commented, ‘I’ve been watching this place being built stone by stone and have waited in anticipation for it to open,’” the winery’s Bob Kelso said recently.
“Guests are fascinated with the history of the Jacuzzi family and impressed by the carpentry work, products of reclaimed wood from our various properties. The Olive Press next to the tasting room gives our visitors another point of interest.”
The land this stunning winery sits on is 190 acres of coveted Carneros real estate. Known for cool days (a result of its proximity to San Pablo Bay) and warm nights, coastal winds and fog, and adobe clay and Sonoma volcanic soil, the Carneros region is famous for producing exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as the more esoteric varietals such as the illusive Sangiovese (a key ingredient in classic Italian Chiantis) and the hearty, mouth-filling Barbera.
The winery owns a total of four vineyards throughout the Sonoma County appellation, making them one of the dominant growers in the area. Not surprisingly the vineyards are planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sangiovese, as well as Pinot Grigio and Merlot. Some of the acreage is also used to plant Italian olive trees, a further acknowledgment of their past. In addition to this the winery farms the “Green String” way (as it has since 2000) using use zero pesticides, no petroleum based fertilizers and no herbicides. As they say, “Our belief is that this is the best way to attain a healthy vineyard. Developing healthy soil supplies vines with the water and nutrients it needs.”
The wines produced at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards constitute a long list, close to a dozen in fact. They range from traditional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to fascinating blends such as the Valeriano, a combination of Cabernet, Sangiovese and Merlot. Aged two years in French and American oak barrels it is their take on the Super Tuscans. At the other end of the spectrum are two lighter offerings, the Arneis from Paicines and the Moscato Blanc made with grapes from the fertile Alexander Valley to the north.
Just as you really need to go to the winery to see what has been created architecturally, even more do you need to visit to find what a rich heritage can mean when it comes to crafting unique and delicious wines at one of the area’s newest and most striking wineries.
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards is located at 24724 Arnold Drive (Highway 121) about ten minutes from the town of Sonoma. The tasting room is open every day of the week from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. For directions or for more information you can call them at (707) 931-7575 or toll free at 1-866-522-8693, or look for them on the World Wide Web at www.jacuzziwines.com.
Related Information
|
