Vineyard designated wine facts for kids

A vineyard designated wine is a special type of wine that comes from grapes grown in one specific vineyard. The name of that vineyard will be proudly shown on the wine label. Think of it like a special ingredient from a particular farm – it makes the final product unique!

A vineyard designated Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rio Lago Vineyard in the Alexander Valley region of Sonoma Valley, California.

What is a Vineyard Designated Wine?

A vineyard designated wine means that almost all the grapes used to make that wine came from a single, named vineyard. This is different from wines that might mix grapes from many different places. When you see a vineyard's name on a wine bottle, it tells you that the winemakers believe that specific piece of land produces grapes with a very special quality.

Why are Specific Vineyards Important?

For a long time, people who make wine have noticed that grapes from one piece of land can be very different from grapes grown just a little way down the road. Even small changes in the soil, sunlight, or how much rain an area gets can make a big difference. These special areas, or vineyards, often have clear boundaries.

In places like Burgundy, France, some vineyards are so famous for their quality that they have special rankings. The best ones are called "Grand cru" vineyards. You might see names like Montrachet on a wine label from Burgundy. These vineyard names are often printed even bigger and bolder than the name of the company that made the wine! This shows how important the vineyard itself is.

Vineyard Wines in the United States

In the United States, putting a vineyard's name on a wine label is a more recent idea. One of the first famous wines in California to do this was the 1966 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Later, the 1975 Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay from Chateau St. Jean also became well-known. On the East Coast, places like Unionville Vineyards also make wines from single vineyards.

There are rules about this in the US. If a vineyard's name is on the label, at least 95% of the grapes used to make that wine must have come from that specific vineyard. This rule helps make sure that when you see a vineyard name, you know the wine truly represents that special place.