What a celebration!
One year ago, the first wine labels bearing the Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area (AVA) were submitted by winemakers to the Alcohol, Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for approval by the federal government. A year later, the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance (PGWA) is cheering on its growers and winemakers for the plethora of wines now bearing the AVA on the label and for the accolades these wines are receiving from top wine writers and reviewers.
To mark this auspicious occasion, after years of hard work to make the AVA dream a reality for local growers and winemakers, Petaluma Gap members and friends partied this January in the grand ballroom in the beautifully remodeled Hotel Petaluma, downtown, to toast this accomplishment and showcase all the fabulous wines now displaying Petaluma Gap on their labels.
All of the wines pictured above are being well received in the market place. I thoroughly enjoyed tasting my way through with a couple super standout mentions to make — Thirty-Seven Wines, The Hermit 92 Points, Gold Medal, SF International Wine Competition and Kerith Overstreet's Gap Crown Pinot Noir hand harvested in the moonlight! Keller Estate's beautiful bubbles 2015 Brut Rose sparkling wine was a treat to taste as the team over on Lakeville, up in the hills don't make a sparkling every year. Winemaker Erica Stancliff, of her family's Trombetta Family Wines was on hand for a media pouring. Erica is one to watch in wine country. Her wines are terrific and she has so much energy and enthusiasm and a collaborative spirit that is refreshing in the competitive world of wine.
Bigger name wineries such as Kendall Jackson and Rodney Strong have joined in the Petaluma Gap with their wonderful wines made with premium local fruit, keeping company with one of my stalwart favs, Cline Family Cellars, which has been a longtime active Petaluma Gap member and ambassador.
“We are thrilled to see so many of our winery members receiving 90+ point ratings on the wines they are making from grapes grown in the Petaluma Gap” says Justin Seidenfeld, Director of Winemaking for Rodney Strong and President of the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance. “The wind that ushers in the cool air from the Pacific and that defines our wines is challenging for our growers, but also rewarding for our winemakers. Grapes grown in the Petaluma Gap typically ripen more slowly, but there are many rewards that result from the longer hang-time.”
There are now dozens of winemakers who have labeled their wines with the Petaluma Gap AVA and more than half of the PGWA members have received 90+ point ratings on wines produced from Petaluma Gap fruit.
As a big fan of the cool climate wines of my home micro-region with a history dating back to the first ever dinner party with a small group of local growers where the idea of an alliance was first floated, I would so love to see more of our stores and outlets in the Petaluma area dedicating a section to Petaluma Gap AVA wines so that consumers such as you and I grow more accustomed and inclined to buy super local when it comes to our wines.
I'd also like to see restaurants in and around Petaluma boosting the numbers of Petaluma Gap wines on their wine lists and maybe even a free corkage promotion of some sort for Petaluma Gap wines.
“2018 was a busy year for the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers” says Cheryl Quist, Executive Director. “In May we held a celebration of the approval of the AVA where government dignitaries presented proclamations from the State of California and the Federal Government. In the Spring and Fall the Alliance conducted technical seminars to educate members on topics focused on the Petaluma Gap AVA, and our group’s participation throughout the year in Sonoma County Vintners’ promotional events included the Sommelier Summit, the Sonoma County Barrel Auction and Taste of Sonoma.”
Erica Stancliff, Vice President of the Board and Winemaker at Trombetta Family Wines adds “At a recent Board of Directors meeting, we agreed that the approval of the AVA is really just the beginning of our effort. The next phase is to educate consumers about Petaluma Gap wines, and showing the AVA designation prominently on the label is the first step in that process.”
In December members of PGWA elected seven new board members to bring additional talent to assist with these efforts: Kim Badenfort (Wine Industry Network), Al Brayton (Thirty-Seven Wines), Catherine Caruso (Amy’s Kitchen), Tom Gendall (Cline Cellars), David Meyers (Attorney), Scott Welch (Jackson Family Wines), and Kristine Youngberg (Adobe Road Winery). The group plans several activities in 2019 including a technical seminar series and continued activities with Sonoma County Vintners, as well as participation in other industry events. For more information see www.petalumagap.com.
About the Alliance
Founded in 2005, the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance (PGWA) exists to educate members of the wine trade and consumers about the Petaluma Gap and to increase awareness of the region’s unique growing conditions and resulting wine quality. PGWA additionally supports member winegrowers and vintners within the region through ongoing programs and communications designed to help them maximize their success within the industry. The group’s membership is made up of grape growers, wineries, associate business members, sponsors and local community members with a passion for the region and its wine. Throughout the year, the group conducts educational events and tastings independently and through the Sonoma County Vintners.
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