30 Aug Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Quivira Rosé 2022, Wine Creek Ranch, Dry Creek Valley
While I drink rosé wine throughout the year, it is definitely a wine I drink more of during the hot summer months. So this week, I opened up the Quivira Rosé 2022, Wine Creek Ranch, Dry Creek Valley. Light pink in color, textured and fresh, the Quivira Rosé 2022, Wine Creek Ranch, Dry Creek Valley is the Please The Palate wine of the week.
About Quivira Vineyards
Founded in 1982 by Holly and Henry Wendt, and purchased in 2006 by Pete and Terri Kight, Quivira Vineyards is a leading producer of Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and Rhône varieties in the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma. Quivira is the Spanish name of a mythical place. The winery is located on Wine Creek Ranch, a 110-acre estate that is bisected by the Wine Creek, a life-giving water source and the namesake of the home ranch. On this property, there are 59 acres planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Across Dry Creek Road and Wine Creek Ranch is the 9-acre Anderson Ranch which is planted exclusively to Zinfandel.
Since the beginning, Quivira has been committed to intentional winegrowing. The vineyards are farmed organically and biodynamically and the ultimate goal is to be a completely self-sustaining winery. They compost the winery pomace and estate livestock manure, use cover crops, and utilize crop diversity. In addition, since 1998, Quivira has been actively engaged in restoring Wine Creek, the Coho salmon and Steelhead trout spawning stream that winds through the center of the estate. On the property, an iconic 140-year-old Fig Tree has been preserved as a landmark.
Tasting Notes
The grapes for the Quivira Rosé 2022 are sourced from Wine Creek Ranch. The wine is a blend of 59% Grenache, 20% Primitivo, 10% Counoise, 6% Petite Sirah, and 5% Mourvèdre. The grapes were handpicked at varying times, based on their readiness. Each lot was fermented separately and aged in a mix of stainless steel and neutral barrels. Once all the lots were finished with fermentation, the final blend was made. Each of the grape varieties adds something to the final blend. Grenache gives the strawberry and stone fruit notes and Primitivo adds cherry, rhubarb and red grapefruit notes. All of these beautiful fresh fruit aromas jump out of the glass. On the palate, this bright salmon pink color wine has fresh, vibrant acidity and texture.
Food Pairing
This beautiful 2022 Quivira Rosé has the body and acidity to pair with foods ranging from grilled salmon, charcuterie, and salad niçoise to pesto pasta and spicy foods. I enjoyed the wine with Cheese and Spicy Petters Potato Balls from Porto’s Bakery. Potato puree filled with mozzarella, parmesan, asiago, ricotta, roasted serrano, poblano, red and yellow bell peppers, and sauteed onion is surrounded by a crispy panko crust. The fresh acidity of the wine cut through the fried crust and the rich cheeses while having the body and texture to not get lost with all the cheese and potato deliciousness.
Where To Purchase
The Quivira Rosé 2022, Wine Creek Ranch, Dry Creek Valley retails for $30 and is available on the Quivira Vineyards website.