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"Located in southern Mendocino County,
the Anderson Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is 15 miles long and follows the Navarro River to the Pacific Ocean. This AVA is classified as a "Region 1" growing area, which is - viticulturally speaking - the coolest climate that can successfully grow quality grapes on a large scale. The river helps temper temperature swings and creates cool nightly fog; combined with cooler mornings, the evening fog and warm sunny days allow the grapes to mature more slowly and develop full flavor while maintaining acidity. … we found much to recommend from the 50 wines submitted for this category.”
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-- Lynne Char Bennett
The San Francisco Chronicle, September 14 2007
"Cool, foggy Anderson Valley...
has become a hot spot for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and now crisp, Alsatian whites.
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-- Sara Schneider
2007 Up-and-Coming Wine Region of the Year
Sunset Magazine, September 2007
"When it comes to specific regions in 2005
I give the highest marks to Anderson Valley... Anderson Valley and Monterey are the smallest appellations, in both acreage and number of bottlings, yet both are making exquisite wines. ... As recently as five years ago, few would have dreamed that Golden-State-grown Pinot Noir could produce so many stunning wines this many years in a row. Who could ask for more?
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-- James Laube
An Elegant Year For California Pinot Noir
Wine Spectator, September 2007
"The hunt for America's most intriguing Pinot Noir continues.
This time 'round, Mendocino County is the search area, because the Northern California wine region is only now beginning to attract Pinotphiles who have long been showering their praise on their righteous red from such vaunted areas as Carneros, Russian River Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Barbara County and most recently, Monterey County. ... Mendocino Pinot producers such as Navarro, Goldeneye, Husch, Greenwood Ridge, Claudia Springs, Handley, Lazy Creek, Harmonique and the revitalized Parducci are gradually showing the wine world that Pinot is not only possible from Anderson Valley, but it has what it takes to stand with its peers at the top echelon. As further proof that Anderson Valley Pinot Noir is the real deal, Napa's Cakebread Cellars and Sonoma's La Crema and Williams Selyem have added Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs to their lines.
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-- Gerald Boyd
Wine Review Online
June/July 2007
"For many wine drinkers, wine's first duty is to be red.
That's not the case in Alsace, in eastern France just across the Rhine River from Germany. Nor is it the case in Mendocino County's Anderson Valley, where the grapes of Alsace are making a splash. The starring grapes of Alsatian wines are Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Muscat. Because its climate is similar to that of Alsace, Anderson Valley is a great place to grow them. More importantly, there's an Alsatian attitude about these white varietals clearly evident in Anderson Valley.
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-- Steve Pitcher
Chilly Mendocino County nurtures the distinctive white grapes of northeastern France
San Francisco Chronicle January 12, 2006
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