Avenius Vineyard

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Located one half-mile north of Hardscrabble, the eponymous Avenius Vineyard was planted in 1996 by Shari Avenius, Linden’s manager. Elevation is 1,300 to 1,400 feet with east to northeast exposures. Soils are varied with shale, granite and greenstone.

Training systems

Original plantings of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon are all trained on the Lyre system. Petit Verdot and Merlot are on VSP. All are cane pruned.

Vine spacing and density

Lyre vines are spaced 11 or 12 feet between rows and 6 feet between vines. Vine density ranges from 605 to 660 vines per acre or 1,452 to 1,584 vines per hectare. Merlot is planted at 9 x 4 feet (1,210 vines per acre) and 7 x 4 feet (1515 vines per acre)

Harvest and yields

Avenius is our coolest site, often making it the last to harvest. Typically the whites are harvested from mid to late September and the reds in October. Yields are low due to small cluster size and sometimes severe crop thinning in the reds to ensure full ripeness.

Site influence on style and flavor

Avenius Vineyard is about minerality and verve. Whites tend to be focused on stony, flint/chalk flavors with citrus and green apple notes. Chardonnay is Chablis-like in style. Great seafood wines. Reds tend to be quite structured, very Italian-like with earthy aromas and firm acidity and tannins.

Avenius Vineyard

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay were planted first, then followed by Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon in 1998 and 1999.

Reds

Cabernet Sauvignon: 0.75 acre
Merlot: 1 acre
Petit Verdot: 0.75 acre

Whites

Chardonnay: 1 acre
Sauvignon Blanc: 1.5 acres