Margins 2022 Clarksburg Chenin Blanc

 100% Chenin blanc

AVA: Clarksburg

Vineyard: Wilson Vineyards, Block 20

Farming:

Block 20 was farmed completely organically starting in 2020, which is another success story that proves my theory that if you invest time into building relationships and commit to a goal, agricultural change is possible. When I began to work with this vineyard in 2016, I nudged vineyard manager David toward the idea of organically farming this 20-acre block. Agricultural change doesn’t happen overnight, and David has been working for years toward the achievement of organic conversion in this block. Part of the Margins mission over the years was to work with growers while they transitioned their vineyards to organic farming by providing guidance as well as assurance that the grapes would have a home. I believe that if I worked with solely organic vineyards, I would not be using my role in the industry to its full potential to enact agricultural change. As of harvest 2021, all vineyards Margins works with are organically farmed.

Vinification:

Whole cluster pressed to stainless steel tank for fermentation. Aged in neutral oak for five months with bâttonage every other week during October - January. Native fermentation, no fining, no filtration, no other modifications or additions except 20 ppm of sulfur dioxide the week before bottling.

Margins Wine, a small winemaking project of Megan Bell, a winemaker living and working in the Santa Cruz Mountains, produces low-intervention wines using grapes from underrepresented regions, vineyards, and varietals. Much like people living on the ‘margins of society,’ vineyards can be outcasts too. Most consumers of wine are only familiar with a handful of grape-growing regions and types of wine. Margins draws attention to vineyards and varietals throughout northern and central California that find themselves on the margins without the recognition they deserve.