Nothing says “summer” like a crisp linen dress, sand between the toes, entertaining under the stars and a glass of chilled chardonnay. One of our favorite vineyards and wineries happens to be Flowers, high above the Pacific Ocean on the northern Sonoma Coast.
As nursery owners in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Walt and Joan Flowers had long dreamed of combining their love of wine with their passion for agriculture. In 1990, the Flowers purchased 321 acres, a “warm site in a cool climate” uniquely suited to growing their favorite Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varietals. By 2004, the property grew to include an additional 327 acres on which 47 acres of Pinot Noir vines were planted.
We love Matt Kramer‘s description of the property in his book New California Wine: “To see Flowers Vineyard and Winery is to realize just how exceptional an area Sonoma Coast West really is. You’re just a mile or two from the Pacific Ocean as the seagull flies. Yet the elevation puts you way above the fog line. You’re surrounded by forests. Almost like monasteries in the Middle Ages, you can see only a few other outposts of civilization in the form of vineyards… The sense of isolation is genuine and strongly felt.”
Today, Flowers Winery produces 15,000 cases of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from its two estate properties, Camp Meeting Ridge and Flowers Ranch, which are sold to retailers and fine restaurants in the US and overseas. We are looking forward to tasting the 2007 Chardonnay vintage with its layers of lemon drop, apricot and pear this weekend at our annual Fourth of July clambake. Cheers!
Photos from Flowers Vineyard and Winery
No Comments