Nalle

The Nalle estate is very much a family affair with parents Doug and Lee releasing their first vintage in 1984 and now their son Andrew (winemaker) and his wife April (viticulturist) have taken the reins.

Since their first vintage, they have flown somewhat under the radar as they eschewed the Parker-esque style for extraction and alcohol, instead producing wines - notably their Zinfandels - which showcase incredible elegance and ageability. Whilst they do produce a small amount of Chardonnay and Pinot from the Russian River, it is their Dry Creek Zinfandel that has garnered them a cult following.

The family work from two primary vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley, one of which - Henderlong Ranch - lies a few metres from their winery and was planted in 1927 by Andrew’s great grandparents. The Nalle’s are one of the earliest estates to start harvest each year and they continue to pick and sort everything by hand. After further sorting, the grapes undergo a three day cold soak followed by 7-14 days of fermentation on the skins, punched down 2-3 times per day. Finally the wine is aged for 11 months in 25% new French oak before bottling.

On the creation of the estate, Doug and Lee sought to create underground cellars but when they were denied planning permission, they decided to build a cellar with a living roof. It is planted with rosemary plants which help to stop erosion of the soil and also becomes a thriving home for bees when the plants are in bloom. This cellar has meant that there is no need to cool or heat any of their wines in the vinification process. The family also farm organically where possible, dry-farming all of their vineyards and working with a range of cover-crops to add soil fertility and stop erosion.