2018 Grace Benoist Ranch Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine

An exemplary expression of Grace Benoist Ranch estate vineyard, this cuvée is a blend of the best vineyard blocks on the Ranch, tucked away in the far northwest corner of the Carneros appellation. Unlike most Carneros vineyards, which are largely uplifted bay bottoms with soils composed of clay, the soils of Grace Benoist Ranch are variations of volcanic origin. Combining these well-drained, rocky upland soils with the extreme western location closer to San Pablo Bay, makes this cooler site an ideal place to grow Burgundian varieties, known for crafting the world’s best sparkling wines. Vineyard blocks are individually managed to conform to various soil types and the changing contours of the hillside topography. Individual vineyards within Grace Benoist Ranch average only eight acres in size, and spacing is dense to ensure low per vine yields of fully concentrated fruit. As stewards of the property, Etude remains steadfast in our commitment to adhere to sustainable agricultural practices that enable us to farm in concert with the surrounding environment. Wildlife corridors, raptor roosts and owl boxes are abundant throughout the Ranch.

The 2018 vintage presented our second annual opportunity to craft this stunning Blanc de Noirs. Our winemaker’s intention is to craft a sparkling wine to mimic a grower produced sparkling approach, accomplishing a classically styled Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Noirs, honoring the techniques used in Champagne, France. Handpicked fruit was harvested in the cool morning hours and sent directly to the winery where it was gently whole cluster pressed. When producing a Blanc de Noirs cuvee, our winemakers remove the dark grape skins just after the fruit has been pressed. This way, the clear grape juice ferments separately and produces a white sparkling wine. Pinot Noir from our Grace Benoist vineyard is the base wine of this cuvee, 10% of which went to barrel for fermentation, while chardonnay completes the rest of the blend, adding brightness, complexity, and fruity character on the mid palate while also drawing out the length of the finish. The wine spent over four years on lees prior to disgorging, then some time resting in bottle, before releasing in Fall of 2022.