This article explores the efforts of winemaker Rodrigo Soto of Far Mountain to establish the Moon Mountain District AVA as a recognized wine category, alongside Napa Valley, highlighting the region's unique terroir and the success of Far Mountain's wines.
While some billionaires focus on colonizing the moon, winemaker Rodrigo Soto has a different, yet equally ambitious goal: to establish wines from the Moon Mountain District AVA as a distinct category in restaurants and bottle shops nationwide. He envisions wine lists where Moon Mountain District wines hold a prominent place, alongside celebrated regions like Napa Valley.
Soto, co-founder of Far Mountain, believes the Sonoma region, with its diverse microclimates and sub-appellations, offers fertile ground for his vision. Far Mountain, specializing in dry-farmed, cool-climate Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from Sonoma Valley and Moon Mountain District, has already garnered attention from sommeliers across the United States. Their wines, particularly the Chardonnay, have received high praise for their complexity and distinctive characteristics, showcasing the unique terroir of the region. \Soto's aspiration to see Moon Mountain District wines recognized alongside Napa Valley isn't as far-fetched as it may seem. The Moon Mountain District, situated in the Mayacamas Mountains, shares a border with Napa Valley and the Mount Veeder AVA. Soto's experience in the area dates back to 2006, prior to its official AVA designation in 2013. He emphasizes the defining qualities of Moon Mountain District, highlighting its elevation, unique geology, and microclimate, which he believes shape the wines' distinct character. He especially admires the region's history and the dedication of its farmers, including organic farming pioneer Phil Coturri, whose Nunnery vineyard provides grapes for Far Mountain's wines. The wines' success is a testament to the meticulous care and attention to detail invested in both the vineyard and the winemaking process. Sommelier and restaurant owner Kevin Flannery discovered Far Mountain wines while opening his restaurant in Chelsea and was captivated by the Myrna Chardonnay, which he found exceptionally impressive. John Filkins, corporate beverage director of Clyde's Restaurant Group, also pours Far Mountain wines, drawn to the AVA and vineyard sourcing and the value offered, as well as the wines' organic and sustainable production. The wines' ability to impress seasoned industry professionals highlights their quality and potential to become recognized as premium wines. \The Fission Cabernet Sauvignon, named after the fractured soils of the Alta Vista Gold Ranch vineyard in the southern Moon Mountain District, embodies the region's unique geological story. This vineyard, planted in the 1970s at a high elevation, relies on dry-farming methods, showcasing the resilience of the old-timers who planted it, according to Soto. Far Mountain's portfolio extends beyond the Fission and Nunnery wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings from the Montecillo and Monte Rosso vineyards, each imparting distinct characteristics to the wines. Montecillo's basalt soils contribute iron, graphite, and minerality, while Monte Rosso's iron-rich soils produce wines that are rich and profound. The Nunnery's white volcanic ash soils contribute spice, red-fruit notes, and chalky tannins. All the vineyards used for the single-vineyard designated wines are certified organic, but each site requires a tailored winemaking approach due to variations in soils and tannins
Moon Mountain District Wine Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay
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