Sometimes warmer weather Sauvignon blanc wines can lean a little too much on the tropical fruit side for me, but not this one! Ancient Peaks primarily used fruit from their own Margarita Vineyard, part of a working ranch located in a rain shadow that gets an average of 29″ of precipitation a year from storms from the Pacific Ocean. The ranch is also home to cattle, goats, owls and a wildlife corridor that creates safe passage for roaming and migratory animals.

Grapes from this cooler site are then blended with fruit sourced from warmer Paso Robles vineyards to create a Sauvignon blanc with nice acidity and balance. After each lot was cool-fermented to coax out the grapes’ aromas and flavors, the wine was then aged for 4 months in stainless steel before bottling. The result is a lovely example of a California Sauv blanc without the cat pee so often found in the varietal.

And I love all the information Ancient Peaks provides on their back label as well. Check it out: