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theCompass mobile application is a winery, brewery, and distillery locator for North America. |
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Sapphire Hill Vineyards
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The history of Sapphire Hill Vineyards can be traced to the El Molino Ranchero belonging to General Mariano Vallejo. General Vallejo, the last Mexican Governor of California before his overthrow during the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt, granted the Ranchero in 1834 to his brother-in-law, Captain John Cooper. Captain Cooper, in turn, sold 120 acres in 1869 to a Massachusetts relative, Lucy Sullivan, and her husband, Levi Grant Grove. Sapphire Hill is located on the original homestead of Lucy and Levi Grove. The Levi Grove Ranch consisted of some of the most beautiful rolling hillside land in the area. Of the original house, barn, windmill and various out-buildings, all that remains today is the original homestead chimney made from rocks taken from the nearby Russian River. The house burned in a great fire in 1916. While developing the vineyards at Sapphire Hill, several primitive iron and steel farm implements were found on the site. In 1989, longtime friends and winery partners Tim Meinken, Anne Giere, John Hall, and Denice Engstrom searched Sonoma County for the perfect site to grow the cool-climate varietals of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the tradition of the great Burgundian vintners. The Sapphire Hill Vineyard, located in the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley appellation and named for the cool, sapphire-blue nights of the area, was the perfect choice. As they set about the task of planting 32 hillside acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and later Syrah grapes, they employed the latest technology of vertical canopy management, drip irrigation, and high-density planting techniques. In the early years the grapes were sold to such prestigious wineries as Rodney Strong, Sonoma-Cutrer, La Crema, and Murphy-Goode Estate Winery. As the vineyards reached their full maturity and potential, the partners set out with the 1997 vintage to make the finest wines possible from their estate-grown grapes. In 2002 Sapphire Hill Winery established their own winery in Healdsburg, CA. They are located at 51 Front Street in the historic Old Roma Station. Sapphire Hill’s award-winning winemaker, Tim Meinken, believes the current releases of Sapphire Hill show concentrated, elegant flavors, while retaining subtle nuances of their Russian River Valley roots. Their Chardonnay is complemented by an estate Pinot Noir and Syrah, and several Old-Vine Zinfandels.
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Directions
From S.F./Santa Rosa: *Hwy 101 North to the First Healdsburg Ave. Exit.*Take right on Healdsburg Ave.*Cross over Bridge;*Take First right on Front Street;*1/4 mile on left. From North/Geyserville/Ukiah: *Hwy 101 South to Westside Road. *Left on Westside Road. *Continue through traffic light, road becomes Mill St. *Road ends, take right on East. *Right on Hudson/Fitch St, follow until ends into Front St. *Right on Front Street 100 yards on right
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Sapphire Hill Chardonnay
Made from 100% estate fruit, this wine shows classic Russian River characteristics of forward yet elegant fruit, and finishes with crisp green apple and subtle oak integration. Silver Medal--San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Silver Medal--West Coast Wine Competition. Silver Medal--Sonoma County Harvest Fair
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Sapphire Hill Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
Made from 100% estate fruit, this wine shows classic Russian River characteristics of lush mouth-filling fruit, yet finishes with crisp green apple and subtle oak integration.
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Sapphire Hill Pinot Noir
Made from three rare Dijon clones of Pinot Noir, all from the estate fruit of Sapphire Hill Vineyards, this wine evokes rich black cherry, tea, and wild berry flavors. Great complexity and beautiful mouthfeel. Fermented on native yeast. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Silver Medal--Sonoma County Harvest Fair
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Sapphire Hill Reserve Chardonnay
An eight-barrel cuvee selected from the best lots of the Sapphire Hill Vineyard 2000 Chardonnay. Whole-cluster pressed, aged sur-lie in 100% French oak barrels, and bottled unfiltered, this wine is a stunning example of what the Russian River Valley can produce. Gold Medal--San Francisco Wine Competition. Silver Medal--West Coast Wine Competition. Silver Medal-- Sonoma County Harvest Fair
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Sapphire Hill Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
A reserve cuvee selected from the best lots of the Sapphire Hill Vineyard 2001 Chardonnay. Whole-cluster pressed, aged sur-lie in 100% French oak barrels, and bottled unfiltered, this wine is a stunning example of what the Russian River Valley can produce.
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Sapphire Hill Syrah
The focus is exotic spice and bright red berry flavors. Co-fermented with 3% Viognier in the tradition of the Cote-Rotie. Full bodied and full-flavored. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
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Sapphire Hill Syrah, Russian River Valley
The focus is exotic spice, mocha, roasted game and red berry flavors. Full bodied and full-flavored. Reminiscent of a great Cote-Rotie. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
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Sapphire Hill Zinfandel
The fruit explodes with layers of black cherry, strawberry, pepper and spice. Made from 60 year-old head-pruned vines yielding less than 2 tons per acre. 4% Syrah was included in the final blend. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. ”Top 10 wines of 2003”—The Healdsburg Tribune. Silver Medal—Sonoma County Harvest Fair
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Sapphire Hill Zinfandel
The wine shows a beautiful old-vine field blend of 80% Zin, 17% Alicante Bouchet, and 3% Carignan. A huge but smooth wine. Made from a single head-pruned vineyard planted in 1905, yielding less than 1 ton per acre! Bottled unfiltered and unfined. Silver Medal--San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Silver Medal—Orange County Fair Wine Competition
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Sapphire Hill Zinfandel, Russian River Valley
The fruit explodes with layers of black cherry, pepper and spice. Made from 60 year-old head-pruned vines yielding less than 2 tons per acre. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. Silver Medal—Sonoma County Harvest Fair
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