Description

PRODUCER:
Andrew Quady’s change of career from making fireworks to making wine produced an explosion of its own kind when he created Essensia from the Orange Muscat grape. It was an instant success, and until 1985, he could not make enough to satisfy demand. Now Quady is the foremost American winery specialising entirely in dessert wines and continues to win medals worldwide. In 1975, Quady’s first port-like wine was made from Amador County Zinfandel. Now it is made from traditional Portuguese varietals such as Tinta Roriz and Tinta Cao.

VINEYARD:
The grapes for the base wine come from the Central Valley, which covers a vast area, running parallel with California’s Pacific coastline for more than 400 miles. Located around 100 miles inland, it is flanked by the Coastal Ranges to the west and the Sierra Nevada mountains to the east. The climate of this region is generally hot and dry. Quady Winery is Certified Sustainable with California Certified Sustainable Winegrowing(CCSW) and the Orange Muscat component is Orange Muscat is CCSW certified sustainable. On the Quady home vineyard, minimal pesticides and integrated pest management strategies are used. Other growers are being encouraged to farm their vineyards as sustainably as possible.

WINEMAKING:
For Extra Dry Vya, a neutral base wine using Colombard, Chenin Blanc and Thompson was made, along with Orange Muscat and lightly fortified with neutral grape brandy. Over 15 botanicals consisting of spices and dried herbs, such as the flowers and leaves of linden, lavender and angelica, were macerated in the base wine to infuse it with rich and complex flavours, resulting in a unique and special dry Vermouth. In Vya Extra Dry, the flowers and leaves of the plants are used for the infusion, whereas in Vya Sweet, the roots and seeds of different plants are used. The flowers and leaves of different plants make Vya Extra Dry powerfully herbaceous, crisp, and refreshing.

TASTING NOTE:
Vya Extra-Dry Vermouth is a whole new idea in dry vermouth. A lovely balance between the base wines and the selection of botanicals, giving notes of dried herbs including lavender, angelica and subtle spices.

GRAPES:
Chenin Blanc 30%, Colombard 30%, Orange Muscat 10%, Thompson 30%.