American

Niagara

White Table Wine

May 18th is a historic date in the Pacific Northwest.

May 18, 1970 Oak Knoll Winery opens its doors, May 18, 1980 Mt. Saint Helens erupts, spewing volcanic ash over the Northwest. May 18, 2005 Oak Knoll Winery released GRAPE ERUPTION to celebrate the natural occurrences and progression of what happens from volcanoes to vineyards, then from vineyards to wine. Oak Knoll's GRAPE ERUPTION. To commemorate these events the winery has gone to great lengths to celebrate the anniversaries in Grand Style.

TASTING NOTES

This wine is made from the Niagara grape, which is a native American (Labrusca) grape variety grown in the cooler climates of the United States. The temperate growing season of the Pacific Northwest produces Niagara grapes with an intense grape aroma and distinctive flavor.

TECHNICAL DATA:

11.5% alcohol
2.8% residual sugar
6.9 G/L total acidity

Native American grape varieties have strikingly different physical (and flavor) characteristics than their European (Vinifera) counterparts. A Niagara grape cluster is large with loose, individual berries. The grape skin is thicker and the inside of the grape is fleshy. While the majority of Niagara grapes are grown for grape juice purposes, Oak Knoll has been making wine from this grape since the early 1970's and has developed a large "cult" following which continues to grow.

From Volcanoes to Vineyards

Northwest soil is ideal for producing the succulent and robust fruit of the vine. The area's top layer of black silt loam is actually volcanic soil, a result of eruptions from at least the last 10,000 years. The soil is rich in nutrients and contributes to the complexity and aromatics of the wine. From some of the winery vineyards we have views of four Northwest Volcanoes: Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. The grapes for this wine also come from vineyards both southwest and northeast of Mount St. Helens.

Niagara is a true Northwesterner as it prefers the cooler climate, which in turn produces the particular aroma and distinct flavor known as Niagara.