2020 Sparkling Rosé of MondeuseTraditional Method

Grown on the Rorick estate vineyard in Calaveras County, on soils comprised of a layer of schist over dolomite-rich limestone. Elevation of the vineyard is 2000’. Our Mondeuse was grafted in 2014, onto vines planted in 2000.

This is our third release and new vintage of our traditional method sparkling rosé of Mondeuse. This wine is unique to small production sparkling wine in California in that it is 100% grown and made on our estate. Each bottle of wine passes through our own hands several times over the years through the various stages of sparkling wine making. It is a very laborious labor of love driven by a deep fondness for unique examples of bubbly wine. 

The fruit was hand picked and lightly trodden by foot to release a healthy amount of color. It was gently and slowly pressed, settled and racked to neutral 227L barrique where it underwent primary fermentation. After 10 months in barrel the wine went en tirage for a second fermentation in bottle. It matured in bottle until the spring of 2024 when it was disgorged with zero dosage.

The Mondeuse at Rorick Heritage Vineyard is among the last fruit to be picked every year; we typically see sugars reach our sparkling target level of ~19º Brix the last week of September or even into October. The fruit was hand picked and whole cluster pressed; primary fermentation was undertaken in neutral 227L barrique. The base wine went en tirage on July 2021, and was disgorged April 2024. It was finished with zero dosage. 

The overall generosity of flavor is something we have come to notice with Sparkling Mondeuse. It continues to surprise us in how the expressive the varietal characteristics translate to a lighter expression of winemaking.