Diora wines represent the culmination of a thirty-year, vineyard-to-bottle journey drawing on two estate vineyards in coastal Monterey County: River Road Ranch Vineyard, located in Monterey’s Santa Lucia Highlands, and the northern reach of San Bernabe Vineyard, located in its eponymous AVA. The wines reflect the Indelicato family’s commitment to expressing the terroir of these sites through small-block farming and site-specific winemaking. Within Monterey County, San Bernabe’s rare aeolian (wind-formed) soils define the AVA, having been formed from ancient sand dunes. Both vineyards benefit from dramatic diurnal temperature shifts and cooling afternoon winds, funneled south from the Monterey Bay by the Santa Lucia and Gabilan Ranges. The resulting wines are crafted with precision by Winemaker James Ewart at a small-lot winery located within the San Bernabe Vineyard. |
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San Bernabe Vineyard
AVA: San Bernabe
Owner: Delicato Family Wines
Planted: 1972 | Purchased: 1988
Soil: 65% gently rolling hills of aeolian sands; 35% Lockwood series (alluvial deposits of shaly loam and clay mixed with calcified gravels and cobbles)
Climate: Cool to moderate climate. Winkler Scale III, moderated by strong onshore winds. Within the AVA, 22 distinct microclimates have been identified.
Annual Rainfall: 20-30 cm
Budbreak: Mid- to late March
Harvest: Chardonnay - Late September to early October; Pinot Noir - Third week of September to early October; Syrah - Third or fourth week of October to early November.
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River Road Ranch Vineyard
AVA: Santa Lucia Highlands
Owner: Delicato Family Wines
Planted: 1972 | Purchased: 2016
Aspect: East/Northeast facing benchland
Soil: Arroyo Seco gravelly sandy loam with a high proportion of gneiss to granite. Soils were formed in alluvium from dominantly granitic sources, and include alluvium from schist, gneiss, sandstone, and siliceous shale
Climate: Winkler Scale III
Viticulture: Both vineyards are Certified Sustainable.
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Diora wines are made in a small-lot winery located in the heart of San Bernabe Vineyard in Monterey County. Fruit is sourced from two estate vineyards: San Bernabe Vineyard (San Bernabe AVA) and River Road Ranch Vineyard (Santa Lucia Highlands AVA). While the latter vineyard was being replanted, an adjacent vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands provided fruit for the 2018 and 2019 vintages.
Winemaker James Ewart follows a low-impact philosophy when it comes to farming and making wine. The proximity of the state-of-the-art winery to the vineyards allows James to bring in small loads of grapes immediately upon harvest, in the cool of the morning, and to adjust picking and winemaking decisions with alacrity and precision.
Diora is the culmination of experience, patience, and decades spent gaining an understanding of the unique terroir of San Bernabe and, more recently, the River Road Ranch Vineyard.
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Appellation:
100% Estate Grown San Bernabe, Monterey
Vineyards:
The fruit was picked from two main Pinot Noir blocks selected because of the uniform red fruit flavors. With careful canopy management we were able to control vine vigor.
Fermentation: 88% fermented in stainless steel, 12% fermented in neutral barrels
Varietals: 84% Pinot Noir, 8% Grenache, 4% Syrah, 3% Chardonnay, <1% Malbec
Aromas: fresh, ripe strawberries and notes of red grapefruit and honeydew melon that are inviting and alluring.
Taste: The aromas are carried through on the palate
Mouthfeel: Vibrant acidity and an elegant mouthfeel showcasing the quality of the fruit from our Estate Vineyard.
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Appellation:
~80% San Bernabe Estate Vineyard
~20% Santa Lucia Highlands
Vineyards:
Only our best blocks with specific clones, mostly Dijon, made it to the finished blend.
From our San Bernabe Vineyard blocks 43B (clone 17), block 41B (Clone 95, 76), block 218A have more calcareous soils adding minerality.
From our Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard blocks 1BS, 1BN, and 1AS with predominately clone 4 and 95 were selected for the final blend adding the rich tropical notes.
Oak: Aged 14 months in barrel (~45% new), primarily French oak
Malolactic Fermentation: 100%
Aromas: Tropical pineapple mingles with toasted oak and hints of ripe apricot and pear.
Taste: On the palate, the delicate flavors of crème brûlée and vanilla bean give way to lovely notes of key lime, white peach and marshmallow.
Mouthfeel: Rich, Medium Bodied
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Appellation:
~ two thirds from Santa Lucia Highlands
~ one third from San Bernabe Estate Vineyard
Vineyards:
The San Bernabe Estate sandy soils are free draining, allowing the vines to develop deep root systems, the fruit here heightens the luscious, round textures on the palate contributing the red fruit and elegance, Santa Lucia Highlands fruit offers darker fruit aromas and tannins. The combination allows us to add layers and complexity to our final blend.
Oak: Aged ~ 12 months in barrel (~33% new)
Aromas: dark cherries and raspberry mingle with nuances of licorice.
Taste: the palate unfolds with decadent layers of intense chocolate-covered dark red cherries and a delicate hint of wild sage.
Mouthfeel: Soft and velvety, robust with a voluptuous and full-bodied mouthfeel
Finish: A long, lingering finish instills a lasting impression of rich, concentrated flavors.
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California Certified Sustainable Winery - Now displayed on Label!
Beginning in April 2022, the 2020 vintage Diora Chardonnay and Pinot Noir will be CCSW certified and will display the emblem on the back label. Please work directly with your Delicato Family Wines sales manager for exact transition dates for your next shipment.
Commitment to Sustainability
For Winemaker James Ewart, sustainable practices are paramount to quality winemaking. His philosophy is to enrich, not change, what the land expresses, respecting the balance and harmony that come when the right grape is planted in the right place. The Pinot Noir vineyard blocks here provide the dark fruit aromas and flavors. The Chardonnay vineyard blocks provide the rich tropical notes and flavors.
Energy Efficiencies
Energy audits of the overall winery operation and vineyard irrigation are conducted and are used when making decisions on maintenance, capital improvements and employee training. These capital improvements include new equipment with variable frequency drives, multi-speed motors and "right-sized" pumps are selected.
Water Conservation and Water Quality
Total water use/quality is monitored and reordered throughout the year with a comprehensive audit for all vineyards and wineries. Water that is discharged from process is treated and used to irrigate grasslands, some vineyards and landscaping.
Biodiversity
The San Bernabe Vineyard in Monterey is carefully tended to preserve the habitats for wild boar, coyotes, rabbits, gophers, badgers, deer, mountain lions, eagles, hawks, owls, ducks, herons, starlings, vultures and a variety of fish. The preservation of the wildlife ecosystem results in the natural pest management control (e.g. owls help greatly with the destruction of pests that are damaging to the vineyards).
Viticulture
The vineyard layout was designed according to patterns of soil types and operation efficiencies. The rows were oriented with consideration made to prevailing wind, sunlight angle and side slope minimization for safety and erosion prevention. In addition, buffer zones were created around riparian habitat, native vegetation or sensitive areas, as well as to allow ample turn-around space.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Purchasing decisions are based on defined supplier criteria that include environmental attributes. An example of this is our introduction of lightweight glass early in 2019. One of our primary chardonnay bottle is 468g, but with the new lighter bottled it has led to a 13.4% decrease in weight compared to our primary SKU.
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In 2000, Diora winemaker James Ewart left Australia’s wine country and journeyed to Monterey’s San Bernabe Vineyard.
20 years later, he continues to oversee the team that develops the signature style of these expressive wines overflowing with flavor, depth and personality and a devotion to indulgence.
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Canada
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Diora La Splendeur Du Soleil Monterey Chardonnay and La Petite Grace Monterey Pinot Noir is part of the LCBO's (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) 'Destination Collection' in late March.
- Diora La Splendeur Du Soleil Monterey Chardonnay will be released in Vintages stores for the first time as part of the LCBO front line release. ~350 cases of the 2019 will be on shelf on November 19th, 2022.
- Alberta retail chain - Alcanna, has picked up the Diora La Splendeur Du Soleil Monterey Chardonnay and La Petite Grace Monterey Pinot Noir. It will be launching in their stores this spring. 2-3k cases per year.
- New listing! Diora La Petite Grace Monterey Pinot Noir will launch at Manitoba Liquor in July.
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Sweden
- Tender Winner! The Diora La Splendeur Du Soleil Monterey Chardonnay will be launching this month in Systembolaget stores.
- The Diora La Splendeur Du Soleil Monterey Chardonnay was featured on Sweden's #1 morning show.
- The Diora La Splendeur Du Soleil Monterey Chardonnay was reviewed in Sweden's #2 largest newspaper.
"Diora La Splandeur du Soleil Chardonnay 2019
USA, California SEK 179, no. 2640, white full-bodied & tasty
I admit: I like buttery creamy chardonnays from California - at least when they're so well
made. I like to drink them with a pasta vongole."
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2020 La Belle Fete Monterey Rosé of Pinot Noir
- Drink Pink Wine Challenge 2021 - Gold
- USA Wine Ratings 2021 - Best in Show by Country/Category 95pts
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2019 La Splendeur Du Soleil Monterey Chardonnay
- Wine Enthusiast - Top 100 Wine List for 2021, #9
- SF Chronicle Wine Competition 2022 - Double Gold
- Monterey International Wine Competition 2022 - Gold, 92 pts.
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2019 La Petite Grace Monterey Pinot Noir
- Wine Enthusiast - 90 pts.
- San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2022 - Gold
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