Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / May 23, 1998, edition 1 / Page 18
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HE CAROLINA TIMES—SATURDAY, may :a, i»»o TRAm TIPS Mendocino County Gains Acclaim As World-Class Wine Region (NAPS)—Mendocino County, alifornia, has finally arrived as a remier wine grape growing !gion. Long considered a backwa- r to the more familiar Napa and onoma regions by many wine itics, the county now finds wine vers and travel aficionados beat- ig a path to its door. Located just two hours north of an Francisco, Mendocino County a microcosm of California’s best •ape growing regions. The area is essed with many micro-climates, icluding the cool coastal region of nderson Valley, which favors inot Noir and Alsatian-style iesling; prime Chardonnay soils f the Russian River valleys of Copland and Ukiah in the south- ast corner of the county; and arm interior hillsides of edwood Valley and Potter Valley, nown for some of the finest ibust Zinfandel, elegant Merlot nd Cabernet Sauvignon. Mendocino County is home to 7 wineries of various sizes rang- og from the popular Fetzer 'ineyards, the largest, to Duncan ’eak, the smallest. In the mix of /ineries are several sparkling /ine producers, three brandy lakers and what syndicated wine /liter Dan Berger has described s “some of the finest wineries in he world.” Of course, Mendocino County’s najor asset is, and always has >een, its grape growers. Across its ills and valleys can be found some f the most distinctive characters ver to ride a tractor. This healthy idustry, comprised of more than 00 “mom-and-pop” fanning fami- ies, has quietly turned Mendocino’s )recious grapes into some of the nost sought-after agricultural com- nodities in California. Nowadays brmer aerospace workers, invest- nent bankers, lawyers, and just )lain working-class people have aken their place next to old-timers vho have been farming since ^hibition. Most have been drawn 0 the county’s rugged beauty, clean local wineries (Frey Vineyards, Hidden Cellars, Yorkville Cellars, Lolonis Winery) and more than two dozen local grape growers. About 25 percent of the county’s 15,000 producing vineyards acres are being farmed organically. For Classified Information Call 682-2913! Winemaker Dennis Martin oversees the harvest at Feizer’s Mendocino County Winery, one of America’s most popular wine producers. water, blue skies and redwood- and oak-studded hillsides. The county features seven dis tinct viticultural appellations: Mendocino, Redwood Valley, Anderson Valley, McDowell Valley, Potter Valley, Mendocino Ridge and Cole Ranch. Federal approval is pending for one additional region, Yorkville Highlands, while two more—Ukiah Valley and Sanel Valley—are in the proposal stage. “Mendocino County growers are the backbone of our company,” says Fetzer winemaker Dennis Martin. “Quality Mendocino Coun ty grapes remain at the heart of our wine production, now being sold in all 50 states and 40 nations throughout the world.” During the past decade, organi cally grown grapes have become a major element in the agricultural landscape of the county, with Fetzer Vineyards and the Fetzer family leading the way. Bonterra Vineyards, a brand launched by Fetzer Vineyards several years ago, has become one of the more well known wineries featuring organical ly grown Mendocino County grapes. And a cottage industry of organic grape growing has sprung up, consisting of several other 1998 Wine Events In Mendocino County Mendocino County vintners host a number of wine and food events each year, including the popular Mendocino County Winegrowers Alliance Wine Auction & Barbecue, to be held this year on June 27 in Hopland. Here are other major 1998 wine tasting events in the coimty: •Mendocino Whale Festival, March 7-8, Mendocino • Fort Bragg Whale Festival, March 21-22, Fort Bragg • Hopland Winery Spring Passport Weekend, April 4-5, Hopland •Ukiah Main Street Grand Tasting, May 29, Ukiah •A Taste Of Redwood Valley, June 20-21, Redwood Valley . ^Handley Cellars—Exfiressidns Of ArlOflMK. 'Juii Miio ^. * Wine (Facing'; |'' July 25-26, Greenwood Ridge, Anderson Valley •Winesong!—Mendocino Coast Hospital Wine Auction,'Sept. 12, Fort Bragg • Celebration Of The Harvest, Fetzer Vineyards, October, Hopland •Hopland Halloween Passport Weekend, Oct. 24-25, Hopland •Fetzer Holiday Celebration, November-December, Hopland For more information or a map of Mendocino County that lists all of its wineries, call the Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance at (707) 744- 1363. For more about Mendocino Coast events, call the Mendocino/Fort Bragg Coast Chamber of Commerce at (707) ■961-6300. E'er more .about! upcoming! Fetzer! Vineyards ’evew^^ (8G0;)‘846;-8637:!!;!:!!!,.!, From Asheville to Beaufort, Bus Tour Connects NCSU Faculty With State During a five-day bus tour across the stale, NorthCarolina Stale University faculi) and staff members will learn how university research is addressing environmental challenges throughout North Carolina. The "Connecting in North Carolina" bus tour, an annual excursion for new faculty and professional staff members, is an introduction to the citizens, culture and econo my of North Carolina -— from (he Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic coast. Tk scenic 1,200-mile trip runs May 18-22. Stops along the tour route include research, extension, manufacturing and process ing sites from the mountains to the sea, at locations ranging from Greensboro to New Bern, and Asheville to Beaufort. This year, many of the slops share an environmental theme, in keeping with NC State's research expertise and extension initiatives in a wide variety of enviroomenial areas. Among other things, the NC State representatives will: * Talk with Rick Dove, the Neuse River Foundation "river keeper." Dr. Roberl Bruck, coordinator of NC Slate University Environmental Programs, and Dr. Lundie Spence, marine education specialist with North Carolina Sea Grant, about water ily problems and the fish-killing microbe Pfiesteria piscicida. * Learn about NC State’s collaboration with a large furniture'manufacturer lo reduce the emissions of volatile organic compounds. * Hear how the NC Slate Minerals Research Laboratory helps mining indusiries solve environmental problems. * Learn about the livestock industry’s response to environmental regulations, waier treatment and health-related issues. As they learn about the people, natural resources and history of the state, members of the group also will see firsthand how NC State improves the quality of life and eco nomic development of Connect - the state. At the same time, they’ll have the chance to look for their own opportunities to apply the university’s expertise to practical challenges. "Connecting in North Carolina," was launched in 1995 by NC State Provost Phillip Stiles. It offers* an opportunity for new faculty and professional staff members to bel ter understand students’ hometown roots, meet successful graduates, and discover ik variety of ways NC State meets the state’s leaching, research and extension needs. The tour enriches faculty members in the classroom and in their research and out reach efforts by helping foster relationships outside NC State and within the univer sity, said Sondra Kirsch, vice provost for outreach, extension and continuing studies "All of the faculty have gained a greater sense of pride in where they’re working what being a land-grant institution means and how they’re a part of that," she said. Kirsch said past tour participants have used the trip, to build research and service partnerships with the representatives of the private and; public institutions they visited.
The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
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May 23, 1998, edition 1
18
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