Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/646485
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m M a r - A p r 2 016 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 2 7 I decided to pay a visit to Jim Law, one of Virginia's premier Petit Manseng produc- ers. From Washington, D.C., I drove about 65 miles west and up into the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, arriving at Law's Lin- den Vineyards on a gray, drizzly Novem- ber afternoon. It was decidedly chilly in the vineyard 1,300 feet above sea level, but while humans might find the nippy autumnal weather less than comfy, Law assured me it was no big deal for Petit Manseng. "These are remarkably resilient he Marquis de Lafayette was a young French soldier who raced across the ocean to fight for the American cause dur- ing the Revolutionary War. His greatest military success was in Virginia, where he played a leading role at the Battle of York- town, the last major land battle in the war. Petit Manseng is a French grape variety that may be modeling itself on the heroic Lafay- ette: "I am here!" it might cry out today. "I'm here to bring glory to Virginia's wine." Petit Manseng is a native of France's Jurançon region, located in southwest- ern France about 18 miles from the Span- ish border. The climate in both Virginia and Jurançon is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean: It rains a lot in both places com- pared to most wine regions (Jurançon gets more than 55 inches of rain per year and Virginia's Charlottesville region gets about 47 inches; compare this to, say, the Côte d'Or's average 29.9 inches or Napa's 20.39 inches). Temperatures in Jurançon tend to be relatively moderate (42°F to 67°F), which cannot be said for Virginia, where both high and low temperatures are more extreme, ranging from 28°F to 88°F. BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS To learn more about how this French grape émigré is faring in its adopted land, Virginia's winegrowers weigh in on this emerging grape's potential. + A native of France's rainy Jurançon region, Petit Manseng seems to be adapting well to its home in Virginia, which has a similar climate. + Among its unique characteristics, Petit Manseng is a grape with high acid and sugar levels. It ripens late and is generally impervi- ous to autumnal rainfall. + Introduced into the Commonwealth in 1987, many growers today believe it's an excellent viticultural choice. + Virginia's winegrowers vinify it in both dessert and drier styles, as a single variety or in a blend with Viognier, Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay and other grapes. AT A GLANCE Petit Manseng: Heroic or Humdrum? EAST WATCH MARGUERITE THOMAS Petite Manseng is a vigorous grape that's gaining pop- ularity in Virginia Photo: Marguerite Thomas