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.