Albertina Wine Cellars

Albertina Wine Cellars
PO Box 601
Hopland, California
USA 95449
Phone: (707) 744-1475
http://www.albertinawinecellars.com

Contact: Fred & Alberta Zmarzly
Email: [email protected]

Albertina Wine Cellars is a boutique winery specializing in ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon wines made from mountain grapes.

Since the Zmarzly Family Vineyard is only in its third growing season, purchased grapes from a nearby mountain vineyard have been used to make the first vintage 2002. The vineyard is on the north side of the mountain slope, offering a unique terroir and microclimate with warm days and cool nights. Afternoon summer breezes cool the vineyard; the peak afternoon temperatures are 3 to 5 degrees cooler than the valley floor. The degree-days of the vineyard is 3200, in Region 3 of the grape-growing classified areas in California, ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The soil in the vineyard is red loam, about 2' to 6' deep, over fractured sandstone. It is well drained, with low to moderate fertility. Soil tests performed have shown good humus levels and sufficient levels of natural nitrogen and potassium. The phosphorus levels are a little low but are supplemented with rock phosphorus and wood ashes.

A total of about 17,000 vines have been planted for a vine density of 1000 vines per acre. Most rows in the vineyard are 8 feet wide while the vines are planted 5 feet apart. The latest trellis technology has been employed to grow grapes of terrific quality. A Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) trellis system, with its movable wires, gently guide the growing shoots vertically in order to expose the leaves and berry clusters to the sun. Shading of the clusters by the leaves is thus avoided. It has been demonstrated that berry clusters that are exposed to the sun produce more phenols and colors, resulting in superior tasting wines.

The vines are irrigated with a drip system that is supplied by an entirely gravity-fed irrigation system. A 30 acre-foot pond high above the vineyard supplies water to the vines. No electricity is used to pump the water; the water just flows down-hill through pipes to the vineyard.

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