Planted along the banks for the Columbia River, at the southern tip of Horse Heaven Hills AVA, Alder Ridge Vineyard’s site selection is second to none. Benefiting from the warmer continental climate of Columbia Valley’s growing season, but with cooling effects from the proximity of the river, high winds from the gorge, and large drops in nighttime temperatures- creates a beautiful balance of enough heat to optimally ripen, but cool enough to retain the fruit’s vibrancy.
The North Bank Blend is a Bordeaux-style blend containing 50% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot. Blending is a winemaker’s greatest tool- finding the right barrel combinations to make the final wine complete, balanced and delicious. Each grape is represented and plays its part. Merlot adds dominating red fruit flavors of dark cherry while adding a softening velvety structure to the wine. Cab Franc lends flavor complexity by adding herbal notes and supports the Merlot’s dark cherry with raspberry flavors. The Cab Sauv and Petit Verdot bring dark fruit flavors of black currant, violet and plum to the background while also adding richness, weight, body and tannin.
The name “North Bank Blend” is a play on the Bordeaux region in southwest France, where these grape varietals originate. Merlot dominant blends are traditionally referred to as “right bank” because they are grown on the right or east side of the Garonne River, which cuts through the center of the region. Whereas Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blends are referred to as “left bank”, grown from the west side of the river. For our Bordeaux-style wine, Alder Ridge Vineyard is on the north bank of the Columbia River, so naturally the name seemed fitting.
