Cienega Valley Wine

Cienega Valley photos, charts, maps, and wines.

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Rising from the figurative ashes of former wine industry giant Almaden, two new companies have resurrected the winemaking business in the Cienega AVA on the western edge of San Benito County. Almaden was sold to rival winemaker Heublein in read more...1987 and much of its Cienega assets were dismantled. The ruins of one company became the foundation for two more, as DeRose Vineyards and the Pietra Santa Winery again produce wine in the Valley. Old Almaden plots have been revived -- including the 120-year-old Negrette vineyard -- and new plantings of Italian varietals were introduced. The valley is bisected by the San Andreas Fault, and grapes benefit from the moderate climate in the 1,100-feet plus elevations. Soils on the east side of the fault line are fragmented granite and crumbled sandstone, while on the west side they are mostly granite and limestone. The whole range of soils are suitable for viticulture, and it will be interesting to see how varietal distribution follows the soil variations in the development of this "old-new" winegrowing region.    (hide)

ayacoco reviewed Pietra Santa Sassolino 2006:

October 2009

ayacoco

Pietra Santa Sassolino 2006

Starting at $18^.00 Snoothrank: 4/5

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ayacoco reviewed Pietra Santa Pinot Noir 2006:

October 2009

ayacoco

Pietra Santa Pinot Noir 2006

Starting at $14^.99 Snoothrank: 2.5/5

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johnwallaceiii reviewed Pietra Santa Dolcetto 2004:

July 2009

johnwallaceiii

Smooth, peppery, good with a meal or on its own

Pietra Santa Dolcetto 2004

Starting at $15^.30 Snoothrank: 3.5/5

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paulc reviewed Pietra Santa Pinot Noir 2006:

July 2009

paulc

Pietra Santa Pinot Noir 2006

Starting at $14^.99 Snoothrank: 2.5/5

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vinofreak12 reviewed Pietra Santa Sangiovese 2005:

July 2009

vinofreak12

Pietra Santa Sangiovese 2005

Starting at $18^.00 Snoothrank: 3.5/5

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Gregory Dal Piaz

May 2009

Gregory Dal Piaz

Memorial Day is on the way! No matter what your Memorial Day barbecue plans ... Santa winery in California's Cienega Valley has been producing some very impressive wines that punch above their weight class. Their...

lafunelle reviewed Pietra Santa Zinfandel 2000:

April 2009

lafunelle

Pietra Santa Zinfandel 2000

Starting at $13^.99 Snoothrank: 3.5/5

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ccarpita reviewed Pietra Santa Sangiovese 2005:

April 2009

ccarpita

You mythological down-home country tavern, how i do enjoy the slightly muddy tap-water layered onto rye, out of a glass that I snitched off a drunkie mcnamara who had his last shot of bourbon and fell down the stairs....

Pietra Santa Sangiovese 2005

Starting at $18^.00 Snoothrank: 3.5/5

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solomania9 reviewed Pietra Santa Sangiovese 2005:

April 2009

solomania9

Big, spicy, leathery, smokey, all that stuff. Picking up on some of the rubbery notes mentioned elsewhere. A fun wine and a great value.

Pietra Santa Sangiovese 2005

Starting at $18^.00 Snoothrank: 3.5/5

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Gregory Dal Piaz wrote in the forum topic: Good value Californian Cabernets

April 2009

Gregory Dal Piaz

Derek, are you reading my mind? Those are two of my absolute top picks! AVV is ... and Pietra Santa from Cienega Valley is a greta new discovery for me this year

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