Snowden - The Sorting Table, LLC - The Next Generation in Fine Wine Importing & Distribution

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*overview	Since 1955, the Snowdens have farmed their vineyard high above the Napa Valley. In addition to the stunning views of St. Helena, Rutherford and the San Francisco Bay, the estate offers four separate sites producing remarkably complex and individualistic wines. Winemaking duties are handled by Diana Snowden – you might recognize her as the enologist for Domaine Dujac – and superstar consultant Dave Ramey. The winery produces two Bordeaux blends from their estate vineyards and a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc from a small parcel they call the Lost Vineyard.
history	In 1955, Wayne and Virginia Snowden purchased a ranch along a ridge in the eastern foothills of the Napa Valley. In addition to the stunning views of St. Helena, Rutherford and the San Francisco Bay, the property came with seven acres of grapes and six acres of prunes, walnuts, plums and peaches. In 1962, realizing the future of Napa was probably in wine rather than fruits and nuts, the Snowdens planted Cabernet Sauvignon from cuttings off of Nathan Fay’s vineyard in Stags Leap. As happens with many new vineyards set in arid sites, the vines struggled to survive. To keep the young plants alive the couple carried small amounts of water up the hill in garbage cans tied into the back seat of a ‘52 Oldsmobile two-door convertible. Scott and Randy Snowden (Wayne and Virginia's sons) assumed responsibility for the property in 1981 and not long after developed the 11-acre "Brothers Vineyard" site. For the next decade the Snowdens sold their grapes to Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. During that period, they worked to fine-tune the trellising and farming of their vineyard with the help of Warren Winiarski, owner of Stag's Leap, and his viticultural consultant, Danny Schuester. In 1993, the Snowdens produced their first vintage under their own label. For the next ten years the family continued to sell a portion of their grapes to friends at Silver Oak Wine Cellars, Frank Family Vineyard and Viader. Starting in 2003 they kept all of the fruit for their estate wines. In January of 2005 Diana Snowden, along with consulting winemaker Dave Ramey, assumed winemaking duties. In addition to her work at Snowden, Diana is also the enologist for Domaine Dujac in Burgundy. Today, Snowden Vineyards produces two Bordeaux blends from their estate vineyards and a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc from a small parcel they call the Lost Vineyard. The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of the best barrels from the best vineyard blocks. It is aged for two years in tight grain oak from the northern forests of France. For added complexity, Diana adds a small percentage of estate Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to the final blend. To retain texture and preserve the integrity of the site, the Estate Cab is bottled unfiltered. Rich, lush and silky, this is always one of Napa Valley’s most expressive and complex wines. The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon is the winery’s second label. Produced from a combination of young vines and declassified wine from the Estate Cabernet program. The Ranch is more approachable in its youth than its illustrious stable mate. It also is bottled unfiltered. <b>Snowden Family History</b> Oral history speaks of great red vintages prior to Prohibition: ripe fruit with high acids, low pH, and rich varietal character. There is no exact record of the original extent of the vineyards at the Snowden Estate. However, there are several places in what are now deep woods where the hill rows of forgotten vineyards and orchards can be seen among massive tree trunks. From what we can tell, vineyards were first planted on our property in the late nineteenth century. Prohibition resulted in most Napa Valley vineyards being replanted to "traveling" varieties of grapes that were durable enough to be shipped to other parts of the country, where people would make them into wine in their homes. At the property, the vineyards moved from Zinfandel to Palomino, Petit Sirah, and Carignane. Also, the orchards were expanded -- particularly prunes. It is told that prior owners operated a small, outdoor distillery near the old house pictured above at the west end of the property. When Wayne and Virginia Snowden acquired the property in 1955, there were fewer than 7 acres of vineyard, together with some 6 acres of prunes, walnuts, plums, and peaches. The grapes were sold to local cooperative wineries, where they went into the two great cuvees of the day: mixed white and mixed black. The Snowdens began to expand the vineyards in 1962. Cabernet Sauvignon was first planted on the property at that time, using cuttings from the Fay vineyard in what would later become the Stags Leap District. The new plantings were "dry farmed," except for a small amount of water transported up the hill for the young vines in garbage cans tied into the back seat of a 1952 Oldsmobile two door convertible. Wayne Snowden died in 1977 and grape production was minimal for the next few years. Scott and Randy Snowden-Wayne and Virginia's son's-assumed responsibility for the vineyards in 1981. At that time, they removed all of the then-producing vineyards and orchards and replanted them to Cabernet Sauvignon. That vineyard is now called "The Brothers Vineyard" and was the first to acquire budwood from the new Jordan vineyard near Healdsburg. For almost a decade, all of the grapes were sold to Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. During that period, they worked closely with Warren Winiarski, owner of Stag's Leap, and his viticultural consultant, Danny Schuester, on the trellising, training, and cropping of the vineyard, tracking cultural variables and correlating these to wine quality. During this time, the Snowdens began working with John Gibson, who was Warren's associate winemaker. The first vintage of Snowden was produced in 1993. John, who had been working with their fruit since the vineyard was replanted, became the winemaker. He has since moved on from Stags Leap Wine Cellars and is now an independent winemaking consultant. During the ensuing ten years, the Snowdens continued to sell a portion of their grapes to friends at Silver Oak Wine Cellars, Frank Family Vineyard, and Viader. Commencing in 2003, they retained all of the grapes for their own use.
vineyard	The Snowden Ranch is located east of the Silverado Trail between Rutherford Hill Road and Taplin Road. The property is a quarter of a mile wide and a mile long, extending from the tiny Spring Valley at the west end over the hill into Conn Valley at the east end. From different places on the property you can see St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Napa, and, on a clear day, the Bay Area. Elevations on the property range from approximately 450 feet to over 850 feet. The vineyards comprise approximately 24 acres at four different locations on the property. Most are planted at what we refer to as “the top of the property” – a relatively flat area on the ridge between Spring and Conn Valleys. Twenty five years ago, they could harvest all the grapes on the property on a single day. Each year we farm the vineyards, we become more familiar with them and learn about the variations in flavor and maturity that arise from different soil areas, exposure, elevation, and vine type. These variations are startlingly distinct, often occurring over a distance of just a few vine rows. By our last harvest, we had identified 17 different vineyard sections which we farm and pick separately. <b>The Brother’s Vineyard</b> features the oldest vines on the estate. Twenty five years ago this Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard was planted with the consultation of Mike Rowan. A few years back the Snowdens added Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to the southern end of the vineyard. Soil Predominantly Perlite Exposure Southern and western exposure Varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot Acreage 11 acres CS; 4 acres Merlot; 1 acre CF; 1/4 acre PV <b>The Lost Orchard</b> When the Snowden family acquired their property the Lost Orchard was already in a state of disrepair. Originally planted to plums, the family established vineyards on the site in 1997. Soil Predominantly Perlite Exposure Southern and western except for the west end of the vineyard, which has eastern exposure Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon Acreage 5 acres <b>The Pool Block & Ricos Vineyard</b> were planted in 1997 along with The Lost Orchard. Soil Predominantly Perlite Exposure The Pool Block has southern and western exposure; Rico's has eastern Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon Acreage Pool Block 1.5 acres; Rico's 1 acre
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www.snowdenvineyards.com	Profile PDF

Since 1955, the Snowdens have farmed their vineyard high above the Napa Valley. In addition to the stunning views of St. Helena, Rutherford and the San Francisco Bay, the estate offers four separate sites producing remarkably complex and individualistic wines. Winemaking duties are handled by Diana Snowden – you might recognize her as the enologist for Domaine Dujac – and superstar consultant Dave Ramey. The winery produces two Bordeaux blends from their estate vineyards and a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc from a small parcel they call the Lost Vineyard.

The Sorting Table, LLC 1700 Second St. Suite 380 Napa, CA 94559 (707) 603-1460

	PORTFOLIO

	ARGENTINA
	Cielo y Tierra

	AUSTRALIA
	Hesketh

	CALIFORNIA - NAPA VALLEY
	Bacio Divino
	Janzen
	Snowden
	Tetra

	CALIFORNIA - SONOMA
	Trig Point

	CALIFORNIA-OREGON
	Expression

	FRANCE - ALSACE
	Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

	FRANCE - BEAUJOLAIS
	Saint-Cyr

	FRANCE - BORDEAUX
	Château Rocher Corbin
	Château Tour du Moulin

	FRANCE - BURGUNDY
	Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils
	Domaine Dugat-Py
	Domaine Dujac
	Domaine Roblet-Monnot
	Dujac Fils & Père
	Remoissenet

	FRANCE - LOIRE
	Domaine du Pré Semelé
	La Varenne
	Terra Laura

	FRANCE - PROVENCE
	Triennes

	FRANCE - RHONE
	D R - Dauvergne Ranvier
	Domaine La Barroche

	ITALY - ALTO ADIGE
	St. Michael-Eppan

	ITALY - FRULI VENIZIA GIULIA
	Miani

	ITALY - PIEDMONT
	Giovanni Rosso

	ITALY - SARDINIA
	Feudi della Medusa

	ITALY - TUSCANY
	Castello di Ama
	Collazzi
	Poggio Antico

	ITALY - VENETO
	Borgoluce
	Marchesi Fumanelli

	NEW ZEALAND
	Martinborough Vineyard Estates
	Momo
	Seresin

	NEW RELEASES

	Martinborough Vineyard Estates 2005 Martinborough Vineyard Estates Vintage Notes

	NEWS AND REVIEWS

	Giovanni Rosso - Newsletter April 2012
	Giovanni Rosso - Vigna Rionda - The Story from Giovanni Rosso 2012
	Giovanni Rosso - The Story from the Winery 2011
	Bill Hill Biography
	Expression-Pinot with Latitude
	Tetra-A Fusion of Four
	2013 brochure
	La Varenne Chinon Les Pierres
	La Varenne Chinon
	Castello di Ama-Vigneto Bellavista Vertical Review - Wine Advocate, Antonio Galloni - June 2012
	Castello di Ama-Vigneto Bellavista Vertical Review - International Wine Cellar - Feb 2013
	2011 Review-Stephen Tanzer Jan/Feb 2013
	2011- Dugat Py Tanzer Review
	2011 Vintage Reviews - Bernard Moreau - John Gillman's View from the Cellar - January 2013
	2011 Domaine Dujac View from the Cellar 13-0118
	2011 Burghound Dugat Py
	2010 Burghound updates 2013
	2010 Burghound Issue 49 – January 2013 updates
	2011 Burghound Jan 2013 issue 49
	2011 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
	2011 Pure
	2010 Vintage Reviews - Zind-Humbrecht - Wine Spectator - Oct 2012
	2010 Vintage Reviews - Zind-Humbrecht - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Nov 2012
	2011 Vintage Reviews - Zind-Humbrecht - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Nov 2012
	Stemming the Tide-Jamie Goode-The World of Fine Wine #37 2012 - stems in fermentation
	2010 Domaine Bernard Moreau Wine Advocate Aug 2012
	2011 St. Michael-Eppan - Pinot Grigio Anger receives Tre Bicchieri
	panorAMA - link to an artful and whimiscal look at Castello di Ama through the seasons
	2009 Vintage Reviews - Zind-Humbrecht - Wine Spectator - Nov 2011
	2004-Vintage Review Bernard Moreau Wine Spectator


	2011 Sauvignon Blanc
	2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
	2010 Merlot
	2010 Sauvignon Blanc
	2010 The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
	2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
	2009 Merlot
	2009 The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
	2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
	2008 Sauvignon Blanc
	2008 The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon