Home > Magazine Archives > Nov. 30, 2007 Issue > People
Rhône Quest in California
True believer John Alban pursues great Syrah, Viognier and other distinctive varietals in the Golden State
Tim Fish
Issue: November 30, 2007
Tinkering. That's what most winemakers and growers in California were doing with Rhône varietals in the 1980s. Syrah and Mourvèdre were just curiosities, minor experiments. In 1985, when John Alban tasted his first bottle of Viognier, a Château du Rozay from Condrieu in France, there were all of 8 acres of the variety planted in California.
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