2023 Margins Skin Fermented Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg, USA

Block 20 was farmed completely organically starting in 2020, which is another success story thatproves my theory that if you invest time into building relationships and commit to a goal,agricultural change is possible. When I began to work with this vineyard in 2016, I nudgedvineyard manager David toward the idea of organically farming this 20-acre block. Agriculturalchange doesnt happen overnight, and David has been working for years toward the achievementof organic conversion in this block.Part of the Margins mission over the years was to work with growers while they transitioned theirvineyards to organic farming by providing guidance as well as assurance that the grapes would havea home. I believe that if I worked with solely organic vineyards, I would not be using my role in theindustry to its full potential to enact agricultural change. As of harvest 2021, all vineyards Margins
works with are organically farmed.
Vinification:
Destemmed then fermented and aged on skins for 20 days with gentle punchdowns once daily.Pressed then aged in neutral oak for 4.5 months. Native fermentation, no fining, no filtration, noother modifications or additions except 30 ppm of sulfur dioxide the week before bottling.
Bio:
My interest in skin fermented white wines was sparked in 2011 when it was still a new idea inthis country. The time on the skins morphs the wine from fresh and fruity to complex and savory.This is my most-loved fermentation every year because I spend more time tending to it than anyother wine. Extended skin maceration with white wine can be tricky, but with much effort this isone of my favorite things that I create.