Varietal: 85% Gravenstein Apples, 15% Orange Muscat
Alcohol: 9.5%
Vineyard: Apples are being sourced by Aaron Brown of Bardos Cider, from feral & historical orchards in Sonoma County, California. Orange Muscat is coming from Hartwick Vineyard, owned and farmed by Jake and Shauna Des Boignes, located in Lodi, CA. The vineyard was established and planted by Shauna’s grandparents. A few years ago the couple left San Francisco and moved back to take over the vineyard.
Vinification: Orange Muscat was destemmed into stainless steel, daily pump overs for gentle aromatic extraction. It stayed on the skins for 7 days before pressing off and being combined with the Gravenstein Apple juice where it finished fermentation. It stayed in stainless steel until it was bottled the last week of October with a dosage of fresh apple juice to finish fermentation in the bottle. Spontaneously fermented, unfined, unfiltered, no added SO2.
The Wine: California is one of the few places that Orange Muscat is grown, it’s a crossing of Chasselas, Muscat Blanc and Petit Grains. Orange blossoms, tangerines, and flower fields in a glass.