AVA - Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
Ink Grade Vineyard was planted in 1990 and spans 200 acres of mountainous terrain.
This is definitely one of the most visually exciting vineyards we source from. Much
of the vineyard is beautifully terraced and it is all well-tended. The vineyard
is actually planted to a quad trellis that ekes out about 2 to 2.5 tons per acre.
This is also one of the more technologically advanced sites, using "stress modules"
to determine ripening and enables us to do multiple picks for optimal ripeness.
The Howell Mountain Appellation is one of California’s most sought after, ultra
premium wine growing regions. Located in the mountains east of St. Helena, this
Napa Valley appellation consists of 14,000 gross acres of mountain slope ranging
in elevation from 1,600-2,300 feet above sea level (most of the acres are not plantable).
The unique climate and rugged soil conditions found on Howell Mountain are the key
to consistent achievement of excellent wines from this historic appellation. Warm
days and cool nights in the summer give rise to a wonderfully balanced chemistry
within each tiny berry. As autumn comes to the mountain, a slight temperature inversion
consistently appears, raising the overall temperature and resulting in ripeness
that unleashes the bold flavors and structured tannins for which Howell Mountain
is famous. Sparse well-draining soils of volcanic ash and gravely loam work in conjunction
with the unique micro-climate to produce small quantities of extraordinary fruit
per acre.