[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”The Winemaker’s Philosphy” admin_label=”Fullwidth Header – background image 1920 x 800px” module_class=”dd-fixed-bg” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”Baskervville|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”60px” subhead_text_align=”center” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” background_image=”https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/NE-View-Fall-Colors-bg.jpg” global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”dd-team” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row module_class=”dd-intro-para” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Introductory paragraph” module_class=”dd-intro-text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_2_font=”|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”|100px||100px” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||0px” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
We aim to produce wines that are complex, elegant and balanced wines that eloquently reflect the terroir of the individual vineyards. Because we grow grapes or purchase them from several vineyards each year, that expression of \u201cterroir\u201d (tasting in each bottle the place where the fruit grows, each with unique soils and drainage, sun exposure, elevation, microclimate and other vineyard practices: see this article for an interesting discussion or terroir) is particularly important. Add to that the choices of grape varietal and rootstocks (or not) and Oregon\u2019s infinitely variable weather, and you begin to understand that wines from each vintage are different, with similar but never identical characteristics from year to year That\u2019s part of the excitement of winemaking. Each year offers fresh challenges.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/The-Sass-Winery.jpg” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Our-Vineyard.jpg” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Our winemaking changes each year, sometimes in subtle ways, sometimes in more significant ones, to adapt to each vineyard and each growing season. I agree with the maxim that great wines are made in the vineyard, and my job is then to stay out of the way as I guide the wines from vine to bottle to consumer\u2019s table. I\u2019m not as happy with a \u201cwinemaker\u2019s vintage,\u201d when I need to intervene, but I am confident still of the results. And I love the challenge offered because each vintage is an absolute individual.<\/p>\n
WINE GEEKINESS WARNING: Although I watch the chemistry of each vintage in each vineyard, once it gets into ballpark range of numerical ripeness (say, 22 degreesBrix and 3.3 pH for pinot noir), I make picking decisions based on taste. I also watch the hardening and browning of the stems, browning of seeds and softness of the skins, butI recognize a certain richness that comes with real flavor ripeness, as opposed to mere chemical ripeness.<\/p>\n
A perfect balance of full fruit expression, with fine, supple tannins and firm acidity, makes truly great wines that will age well and continue to develop, improve and mature in the bottle for years. I spend time in each vineyard because I learn more each year about what that vineyard can produce. The 2019 vintage was our 26th harvest from our estate vineyard, Wild Winds. I\u2019m still learning but now comfortable with what it produces in each curve and fold and slope. That familiarity has led to some powerful \u201ceureka\u201d moments that have taken me down the path to sustainable farming techniques that recognize and celebrate each small part of the vineyard\u2019s ecosystem.<\/p>\n
Because I make wines to enjoy with food, acidity is particularly important because it sharply focuses those flavors and aromas. Finally, I want to make wines that affordably enhance consumers\u2019 meals with friends and loved ones.<\/p>\n
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Our goal is to produce wines that are complex, elegant and balanced,wines that eloquently reflect the terroir of their vineyards We aim to produce wines that are complex, elegant and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":633,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"dipi_cpt_category":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/629"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=629"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/629\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1850,"href":"https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/629\/revisions\/1850"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"dipi_cpt_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sasswinery.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dipi_cpt_category?post=629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}