Norton
Norton
V. aestivalis and V. vinifera, early 1800’s
Originally purveyed by Dr. Daniel Norton and known as Norton’s Virginia Seedling. Specific parentage unknown.
Vine Characteristics
Very productive foliage.
Productive fruit quantity per vine.
Small-medium firm clusters.
Blue/black darker grapes.
Requires cane pruning.
Widely planted at Terravox.
Winemaker’s Notes
TerraVox produces an array of wine styles with Norton including Pet-Nat, Red, Rosé, and port styles.
Rosé winemaking protocol includes oxidative vinification for the Saigneé and reductive vinification for the Sunny Slope.
Rosés crafted with Norton require earlier picking in the season and are typically aged in stainless steel, however, there have been times where the saigneé spends a period in neutral American oak.
Reds and ports, enjoy picking times late into the harvest season.
Norton Red wine style undergoes Malo-lactic fermentation.
Ports and reds are aged in neutral American and French oak.
What remains in the press from the rosé is then used for red and port wines as well—twice the skin contact for excellent maceration during red and port fermentations.
