2016 Muddy Arch Roussanne

Muddy Arch is a brand from Leonard Wine Company, a winemaking venture started in 2012 by the father and son team of Tom and Chris Leonard. The name Muddy Arch is a reference to the famous arch in St. Louis, where Tom Leonard is based. Chris Leonard is the Napa-based winemaker. So far the estate is focused on producing small amounts of Roussanne. Fruit is sourced from Landa Vineyard, which is just outside of the town of Sonoma. Landa Vineyard is a 15-acre parcel planted to Rhone varietals, and the Roussanne vines are 15 years old. Despite being a newcomer to the world of artisanal wines, Muddy Arch is already on the wine list as some of Napa and Sonoma’s best-known restaurants.

Sonoma Valley AVA is Sonoma County’s original winegrowing district. Designated as an AVA in 1981, it includes 14,000 vineyard acres in a long, narrow valley that runs north-south. Rather romantically, the valley is also called The Valley of the Moon. The oldest winery in the AVA, and one of the oldest in California, is Buena Vista Winery, founded in 1857 by a Hungarian count who planted vineyards in Wisconsin before moving to California. Today there are nearly 60 wineries in the AVA producing a variety of wines, from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewurztraminer. The appellation is bordered by mountain ranges on the east and west, which partly account for Sonoma Valley’s unique terroir. The mountains protect it from the cooling weather of the Pacific Ocean and fruit ripens well.

This white grape is often blended with Marsanne. It is one of the few grapes allowed in many Rhone appellations. It is easily distinguished by its russet color when ripe. Producers who favor Roussanne include Chateau Beaucastel and Sine Qua Non.