Ficklin Vineyards

Ficklin Vineyards
30246 Ave 7 1/2
Madera, California
USA 93637
Phone: (559) 661-0075
http://www.ficklin.com/

Contact: Peter Ficklin
Email: [email protected]

At the first crush, the grapes, fully ripened and heavy on the were acquired vines, were carefully hand cut into 50 pound lug boxes. The family and crew gathered about for this moment of high drama. The heavy box was lifted from the field wagon and the deep purple grapes were dumped into the crusher. Instantly the mangled fruit flew back in the face of the worker. A moment's silence and then laughter...the necessary adjustments were made so the crusher no longer ran backward and the initial crush of Ficklin Tinta Port continued.

Marketing those first few hundred cases in the early fifties was largely a matter of capturing buyer's interest. Walter, Sr. had many connections in the fruit market and, with his sons busy in production, he took over the sales and marketing of the new wine. His task was made easier by the early critical acclaim accorded the wine by the experts of the day.

In the mid-sixties David added a second building to expand cellar space, bringing the aging capacity from 43,000 to 51,000 gallons. A third building was added in 1978. The winery slowly added vineyard acreage over the years.

In the early 70's the third generation of Ficklins joined the family business. Steven took over as vineyardist when his father, Walter, Jr., retired. In 1984, Peter, David's son, became the master vintner and in 1991 he became the President as well. David remained active as a consultant until his death in 1998. David's wife, Jean, continued to serve as a director of the corporation until her death in September 2002.

The Ficklins do not usually vintage their port, but use an age-old "solera" process to produce a blend that is consistent in character year after year. They never bottle all of a single year's crush. Some is held back as needed with each succeeding vintage. In theory, there is some of the first wine ever produced in each bottle of Ficklin Tinta Port sold.

Today, Ficklin Vineyards cover some 35 acres planted to the same varietals that were planted in the 1940s. Annual production is just under 10,000 cases of the non-vintage Tinta Port. In very exceptional years, Ficklin bottles a vintage-dated Port in limited quantities of about 1,000 cases. A new addition to the Ficklin family of California Ports, is the Aged 10 Year Tawny Port. First released in the Fall of 1995, this wine is currently showing the full potential and character of a fine wood-aged Port. Winemaker Peter Ficklin has also set aside a group of special barrels for a 20 year old Tawny Port.

Winemaker: Peter Ficklin

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Madera-CA/Ficklin-Vineyards-Port-Society/289839512306

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