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theCompass mobile application is a winery, brewery, and distillery locator for North America. |
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Ventana Vineyards
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In early 1972, Mr. Meador was headed home to be "an apple baron" but was induced first to install about 2,500 acres of vineyards in Monterey County--and then "go home." He quickly became fascinated with the industry--primarily with the problems of cold climate viticulture and winemaking-- and never left. He shortly acquired the property known since as "Ventana" and embarked on an over 20-year journey of research and exploration--essentially "mid-wifing" the birth of the great Monterey wine region and affecting world viticultural thought and practices in the process. Throughout, Mr. Meador has made his research available to the industry through lectures and demonstrations, though in the first decade it was generally not well received by industry members--the conclusions being too deviant from the conventional practices and academic teachings. However, blind judging of wines at the various wine competitions forced issues and, commencing with the 1977 harvest, wines made from grapes grown by Ventana have been gold medal recipients every year since. In fact, the Ventana is the most award-winning single vineyard property in America! Mr. Meador is widely sought by consumers for speaking engagements, as he combines education, wide experience, and humor.
After testing the new vineyard design for a decade (1978-1988), the Ventana has been undergoing conversion in its entirety. Beginning with the 1994 harvest, the majority of the grapes from the Ventana will be from the new system of viticulture and the decades of research will converge on the glass of wine for the consumer.
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Directions
Directions from Highway 1 - San Francisco: Take Highway 1 to Santa Cruz. Keep on Highway 1. Follow all signs South to Monterey. As you near Monterey you will pass the old Fort Ord, continue South, As you begin to see the white sand dunes, look for the Highway 218 Exit (Sand City), there will be Monterey Beach Hotel on the Ocean Side and a K-Mart on the other side of the freeway. Hwy 218 is also Canyon Del Rey. Follow 218 through the cross streets of Del Monte and Fremont. Continue on 218 until it dead ends at highway 68. Turn Right onto Hwy 68 and make an immediate right into the parking lot. There is a sign that says Stone Chapel, & Langdon & Williams Antiques. Look for the Ventana Window to the left of the Tarpy's Restaurant. Come up the stairs to find the Tasting Room. Directions from Highway 101 - San Francisco:
From San Francisco, take either 101 South or ( 280 South to 85 Gilroy South) to 101 South. From 101 South when you reach Prunedale, CA take the 156 West Exit (says Monterey Peninsula). This road takes you to Highway 1 South. Now follow above directions from "as you near Monterey" on. Approximately 2 1/2 hours from San Francisco. Directions from Highway 101 - Southern California: From 101 North-- Take first exit that says Monterey Peninsula. This takes you through the town of Salinas and will run onto Highway 68 West which is the Monterey/Salinas Highway that takes you to the Monterey Peninsula. Drive approximately 20 minutes. When you reach the intersection of Canyon Del Rey (Highway 218), watch for signs on the right hand side of road for the Stone Chapel & Langdon & Williams Antiques in the next 20 feet. Turn right inside the parking lot right after you go through intersection of Canyon Del Rey and Highway 68. If you miss this first exit to the Monterey Peninsula, try next option.
From 101 North of Salinas-- when you get to the town of Prunedale, (approximately 10 minutes north of Salinas, take the 156 West exit to the
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Cabernet Sauvignon
Ventana Vineyard's Cabernet Sauvignon displays a lovely Ruby/Purple color tone. It has a moderately intense bouquet of Cabernet along with a spicy oakiness and berry-cherry nuances. On the palate it is exceptionally well-balanced, having a medium-bodied texture with modest tannins. This is an elegant Bordeaux style wine - very much our house style.
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Dry Rosado
Classic Spanish & French style - bone dry and delicious! The Grenache grape is known for "candied apple" flavors. Ventana's DRY ROSADO has candied apple tones for the nose combined with red fruit flavors for the palate and finishing with crisp acidity to refresh the soul and quench the thirst
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Gewürztraminer
Classic Lichee Nut and accurate floral components charm the nose and are perfect companions to foods of aromatic nature, such as stir fry, many Asian dishes, and curries, etc. On the palate this wine follows through with exquisite "Gewurz" spicy flavors that linger - it is a full and rich wine with a balance between sweetness and acidity tilting toward the acid side.
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Gold Stripe Chardonnay
This full-bodied wine greets you with a pleasant perfume of honey and apple. The nose carries through on the palate and harmonizes with the essence of butterscotch, vanilla, and pear, finished with a gentle taste of oak. While this wine is very precocious, it will age with grace for several years. It was designed for relatively early use. It is very applicable to dining. We have received 24 consecutive years of gold medals on our Chardonnay grapes.
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Merlot
A charming nose of black cherry, blackberry and light cassis carry into a palate sensation featuring velvety texture and soft tannins. Though the wine will age well, it is precocious - giving definite pleasure in its youth, very drinkable now.
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Muscat d' Orange
The grape variety "Muscat d' Orange" is a unique variety grown around the village of Orange in the South of France. It has found a good home in the cool climate of Ventana Vineyard. Fruity and perfumed with hints of citrus followed by a long finish reminiscent of tropical fruits. It is a lovely taste experience.
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Pinot Blanc
Ventana's Pinot Blanc has a wonderful aroma of ripe apple-pear fruit with a hint of apricot and notes of "pie spices". The wine is very smooth and creamy on the palate, offering complex, layered flavors of citrus with nice acidity.
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Pinot Noir
After an ideal growing season, our Pinot Noir grapes were harvested at the end of September. Fermentation was accomplished in open top fermentors and hand punched 3 times a day, for 8 days. After gentle pressing, the wine was then aged in French Oak for 16 months. Brilliant in appearance, the wine has a reddish-purple color, with aromas of cherry, vanilla and a hint of cedar. On the palate, strawberry and cherry flavors are the first to come, followed by vanilla with a hint of oak.
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Riesling
This Vineyard has produced the grapes for Gold/Silver Medal winning Riesling wines for Twenty Consecutive Years. This wine has a tart/sweet composition on the palate. Apricot fruit combined with floral notes makes this Riesling a complex and flavorful wine. The 1% residual is offset with sufficient acid to display a fine balance.
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Sauvignon Blanc
Floral Tones and Timothy hay combine on the nose. It is completely dry on the palate. It has a rich rounded texture combined with a flinty crispness. The taste is of pure, clean Sauvignon - lemony, grassy, - definitely not a Chardonnay wannabe..
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Syrah
The syrah grape is the main grape grown in the Rhone valley and has its origins in Greece. Ventana Vineyards has been growing their Estate Syrah since the late 1970s. The wine displays a unique Black Pepper quality that is inherent in the grape. Ventana has chosen to lightly oak the wine so the wonderful Black Pepper and spice qualities are paramount. This is the wine of choice for those who prefer their red wine with an unusual flare and dry qualities.
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