World renowned. Washington grown.
2003 Two Vines Gewurztraminer
Tasting Notes
“Pronounced aromatics of citrus, spicy peach and honeysuckle introduce the wine, while delicate, spicy-sweet flavors linger on the finish.” -Ray Einberger, Winemaker
Growing Season
- Vintage 2003 began with a typical bud break in early April. Bloom followed in early June. Warm, dry weather conditions during this phase (the start of fruit maturation) contributed to the uniformity of berry maturation at the end of season.
- High heat accumulation during late summer – the warmest of the decade – created excellent ripening conditions.
- Very modest precipitation in August and September cooled the vineyards and slowed down the ripening process.
- At harvest, vineyards across the Columbia Valley had excellent physiological maturity and flavor development across varietals.
Vineyards
- Premium vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley are sources for Columbia Crest’s Gewürztraminer.
- Columbia Valley vineyards are seated east of the Cascade Mountain range. Up to 14,000 feet high, the mountains effectively block eastward-moving wet weather systems from the Pacific Ocean.
- Just 6 to 8 inches of rainfall reach the growing region annually. Vineyards are 100% drip irrigation.
- The soils have low fertility and low water-holding capacity, allowing precise control of vine growth patterns.
- Vines are planted north to south on south and southeast facing slopes.
Winemaking
- Juice fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
- Cool temperatures were maintained throughout fermentation to enhance the variety’s fresh, spicy appeal.
Technical Data
- Total acidity: 0.64 g/100ml
- pH: 3.14
- Alcohol: 11.5%
- Residual Sugar: 2.57 g/100ml