Alban Vineyards

Infobox Winery
winery_name = Alban Vineyards
winery_
location_city = Edna Valley
location_country = USA
appellation = Edna Valley AVA
former_name =
other_labels=
year_founded = 1989
first_vintage =
key_people = John Alban, winemaker
parent_company =
cases_per_year = 5,000
signature_wine = Lorraine Vineyard Reva Vineyard Syrah Seymour's Vineyard Syrah Pandora
varietal1 = Syrah
varietal2 = Grenache
varietal3 = Roussanne
varietal4 = Grenache
varietal5 = Viognier
varietal6 = Mourvèdre
varietal7 =
varietal8 =
varietal9 =
varietal10 =
other_product1=dessert wine
other_product2=
other_product3=
other_product4=
other_product5=
homepage= [http://www.albanvineyards.com www.albanvineyards.com]
distribution limited
tasting=

Alban Vineyards is a California wine estate producing various Rhône style blends and varietal wine. The winery is located in Edna Valley, near Arroyo Grande in the southern corner of San Luis Obispo County.

History

Starting in 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989.Cite web|last= Saekel |first= Karola. "San Francisco Chronicle" |title= Alban Goes for the Rhone |url= http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2000/11/01/FD107992.DTL | date=2000-11-01] With a focus on creating wines made from Rhône Valley varietals, Alban came to be a pioneer of the Rhone Rangers movement, and is considered one of the most influential American Rhone producers.Cite web|last=Asimov|first=Eric. "New York Times"|title=Where the Rhone Bends to the West|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/02/dining/02wine.html |date=2005-11-02] Cite web|last=Parker|first=Robert M. Jr. "Food & Wine"|title=The Promise of Paso Robles|url=http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/the-promise-of-paso-robles|date=October, 2007] Cite web|last=Robinson|first=Jancis |title= Alban Vineyards Syrahs, Edna Valley |url=http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/wineweek030415 | date=2003-04-15]

On beginning to grow Viognier, Alban stated "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieu and Château-Grillet.Cite web|last= Daley |first= Bill. "Chicago Tribune" |url=http://www.azcentral.com/home/wine/articles/0921viognier21.html| title=Floral, aromatic viognier blossoms as winemakers fall for its charms| date=2004-09-21] Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the varietal was near extinction. O. Clarke "Encyclopedia of Grapes" pg 276-281 Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN 0151007144 ]

Production

Within a convert|250|acre|km2|sing=on area, the vineyard area extends 60 acres,Cite web|last=Winepros.com |title=Alban Vineyards |url= http://www.winepros.com.au/jsp/cda/wine/wineryprofile.jsp?ID=2897 ] planted with varieties Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. Additional grapes Grenache and Roussanne are sourced from vineyards located in the warmer Paso Robles AVA.Cite web|last=Calwineries|title=Alban Vineyards |url= http://www.calwineries.com/explore/wineries/alban-vineyards ]

Among the wines produced are the Lorraine Vineyard, Reva Vineyard Syrah, Seymour's Vineyard Syrah, and Pandora, a blend of Grenache and Syrah. There has also been produced a dessert wine with ca. 5% botrytis grapes and aged in 50% new oak, named Rotten Luck.

References

External links

* [http://www.albanvineyards.com/ Alban Vineyards official site]