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| Fortress Vineyards | Santa Rosa, CA 95406 |
www.fortressvineyards.com
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(707 ) 526-3059
Email: info@fortressvineyards.com |
Gary and Barbara Snider’s passion for grape growing began early in their relationship while both were pursuing degrees at UC Davis. In the intervening years between college, marriage, raising two children, and purchasing their first vineyard property in 1988, Gary pursued a corporate career in San Francisco while Barbara taught at the college level and later completed law school. They both continued to manage full time careers while developing their hillside vineyard in Knights Valley As the family developed their vineyards, both their son, Tim, and daughter, Kate, began learning the business “from the ground up". After 10 years of growing and selling grapes from the Knights Valley vineyard to various Napa Valley wineries, the Sniders began looking for new possibilities in Lake County in the area that is now known as the Red Hills Lake County AVA. They saw great potential for growing high premium grapes on a mountain vineyard. They purchased several contiguous parcels of land on a ridge on Mt. Konocti overlooking Clear Lake and in 1998, using their years of research and experience, began development of the high-altitude mountain vineyard. They later named the vineyard the Fortress Vineyard for the many rocks cleared and pushed along the side of the mountain forming medieval-like rock walls throughout the property. After evaluating the first few crops from the Fortress Vineyard, the Sniders realized that the fruit from this vineyard had distinctive qualities and with the 2004 harvest, made their first wine under the Fortress Vineyards label – a Sauvignon Blanc made 100% from the Musque Clone. Based on the success of the Sauvignon Blanc wine (consistently scoring 90 points or above), the Sniders decided to expand the winery side of the business. In 2007 they announced Fortress Vineyards' new consulting winemaker would be Nils Venge who is well known as an outstanding Napa winemaker. Additionally, the Sniders moved their winemaking to Napa and will be an Alternating Proprietor at the Frank Family Vineyards winery in Calistoga, CA. Fortress Vineyards has just added three new wines to its award-winning Sauvignon Blanc. Each new wine is similarly made only from estate grown grapes grown on their high altitude mountain vineyard: 2007 Novateur (70% Semillon 30% Sauvignon Blanc), 2007 Petite Sirah, and 2007 Finale - a 100% Semillon made in the Sauternes style. |
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Winemaker Nils Venge
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Fortress Vineyards is proud to announce their new consulting winemaker, Nils Venge. Nils has over 30 years of winemaking experience in the Napa Valley, and now brings his expertise to Fortress Vineyards. Nils graduated from UC Davis in 1967 with a BS in viticulture and a minor in enology. In 1970, after serving a tour of duty in Vietnam, Nils began his career in the wine industry as a vineyard supervisor for Charles Krug Winery and later, Sterling Vineyards. By 1973 Nils made the transition into winemaking by becoming winemaker and general manager for Villa Mount Eden. In 1982, Nils joined forces with Dennis Groth to form Groth Vineyards and Winery. Nils served as winemaker and general manager. In 1985, Nils was bestowed the honor of being the first American winemaker to receive a perfect ‘100 Points’ from Robert Parker Jr. for Groth’s Reserve Cabernet. In that same year, Nils began making wine under his own label, Saddleback Cellars, from grapes grown on property he and his father-in-law owned together. Saddleback Cellars’ first vintage was released in 1982. Nils parted from Groth Vineyards in 1993 to become a consulting winemaker and to make wine under his own label, Saddleback Cellars. Nils later added Venge Vineyards, a Venge family operation with his son Kirk. Envy Wines is his newest collaborative venture. In addition to now consulting for Fortress Vineyards, Nils' winery clients include such prominent wineries as Keenan, Del Dotto, Plumpjack and Moss Creek |
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Red
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2007 Petite Sirah
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Regular as of 04/27 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (707 ) 526-3059 |
White
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2007 Sauvignon Blanc Musque Clone
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Regular as of 04/27 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (707 ) 526-3059 |
White
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2007 Novateur
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$20.00 Regular as of 04/27 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (707 ) 526-3059 |
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