Dancing Coyote's interest in growing and producing new and interesting varietals to our area didn't stop at Albarino.   This year we bottled our latest venture, Verdelho.   Our 2005 Verdelho, with its flavorsome palate and full-bodied nature, is a great alternative to Chardonnay.
(Update: Our 2006 Verdelho is coming mid 2007!)


The Verdelho grape is a native of Portugal. With hints of toasted spice, this medium-dry style wine displays honeysuckle, pineapple and tangy citrus flavors that lead to a rich creaminess on the finish.


This wine is a great alternative to Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Enjoy it with seafood and chicken, pork or veal.

The Clarksburg appellation is ideal for producing top quality Verdelho, mainly due it its climate. As the Sacramento Valley heats up during the day, it pulls in the cool maritime breeze from the bay, which allows warm summer days and cool evenings. We take special care in all aspects of our grape growing from deficit irrigation, to precise pruning techniques, to handpicking at harvest.


Grapes were handpicked in the morning and whole cluster pressed on our new Diemme membrane press. Juice was cold settled and initially fermented cold in stainless steel tanks. The wine finished fermentation in small oak barrels for aging. Barrels were stirred weekly for sur lee aging, and a portion of this wine underwent malo-lactic (secondary) fermentation. After 3 months of barrel aging, the wine was racked from barrel and finished for bottling.