Tucalota Vineyard was planted in 1997, at the foot of the Tucalota Mountain, and thrives in the northeast corner of Temecula Wine Country at an average elevation of 1,800 feet. Rolling hills within the vineyard itself provide the beneficial drainage for the granitic soil that nourishes our vines. Upon grading the vineyard in preparation for planting, we allowed several of the original granite boulders to remain, giving us a reminder of the origin of our soil.
Originally planted with cuttings from old Cinsault vines which were transported in 1884 from the Rhone Valley in France to Cucamonga, California, these vines have prospered to produce an award winning dessert wine carefully crafted by the nearby winemaker at Leonesse Cellars. In 2006 we introduced Mourvedre and Grenache, the varieties famous in Spain and the southern Rhone Valley in France for their resistance to hot days, so characteristic of the Temecula Valley. In addition, mention should be made of our proximity to the Rainbow Pass to the west which allows the cool ocean air to reach
our vineyard, especially in late summer, providing the cool nights that allow for a slow maturation of the fruit.
Our Mourvedre harvested at 23 brix has produced a robust varietal while the Grenache is used primarily for blending with other Rhone varieties. The superb dessert wine produced from the Cinsault by Leonesse Cellars is harvested at approximately 26 brix and fermented on the skins to extract maximum intensity in color and flavor.
For more information about Tucalota Vineyard, contact Selma Lesser: selma909 (at) verizon.net
