When my son was a young boy he loved trucks, as a result he wanted to be a construction worker so he could drive a truck like a digger or a dump truck. As he got older he became a competitive hockey player so for a few years he wanted to be in the NHL when he grew up. Today he is looking forward to attending college in a year to get a degree in business and who knows what he will do for a living. It is fairly common for us to change our minds of “what we want to do when we grow up” many times over the course of our lives. Even as an adult (though some would argue) I have changed my occupation a few times. I really cannot imagine what it would be like to know in one’s soul from as long as can be remembered what one wants to do for a living as a grown-up. However, Tom Gore knows exactly how this feels.
You see Tom Gore knew since the age of three that he wanted to be a grape grower; a farmer. Tom is a second generation Alexander Valley grape farmer. Growing up in the heart of Alexander Valley and living on a winery his whole life, from a young age Tom would ride with his dad to visit the vines. Tom had a peaceful feeling that he would follow in his father’s foot-steps and grape farming would be his life. Tom has a deep passion for carrying on his father’s legacy. In fact he drives to his vineyards each day in the same truck his father used, a 1971 Ford F100 pick-up truck.
Tom explains what he loves about farming and vineyards: “No matter what you do it still comes back to soil and weather. You can’t change the weather, so you try and see what’s coming. I think the way you make the wine in the winery is important, but I also think the way that we farm plays a pivotal role in how the final product is going to taste. And I am excited for that story to be told.”
Tom has a deep connection to the land, the grapes, Alexander Valley, and his family. Tom chooses to tell his story, the story of a farmer, through his wines. I am honored to be one voice in sharing Tom’s story through these three wines he shared with me.
Tom also has a great sense of humor about his wines. Check out this quick video:
Tom Gore Vineyards 2015 Sauvignon Blanc: This wine was crafted of 94% Sauvignon Blanc and 6% French Colombard from grapes sourced from both Central and North Coast California where cool nights and warm afternoon breezes create an ideal growing conditions for the grapes; it poured a delicate almost opaque gold into the glass; aromas of a summer fruit basket billow from the glass, grapefruit, lemon zest, orange peel, white peaches, and Korean melon were met with notes of fresh cut grass and a touch of baking spice; lively on the palate with fresh squeezed limes joining the aromas mid-palate, zesty acidity create a crisp wine perfect for summer; stainless steel fermentation, 13.6% ABV; SRP $15.99; click here to order
Tom Gore Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay: This wine was crafted of 98% Chardonnay and 2% Sauvignon Blanc from grapes cultivated in the Alexander Valley; it poured an angelic golden yellow into the glass; aromas of orchard and stone fruit were met with rich apple pie spice notes and a touch of toasted oak; the palate delivers a smooth, creamy texture that was well-balanced with a long, mouth-coating, acidic finish, racy with lots of spice on the mid and back palate finished off a warm fruit entry; fermentation took place in 65% oak barrel and 35% stainless steel; 14.5% ABV, SRP $15.99; click here to order
Tom Gore Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon: This Cabernet Sauvignon poured a deep ruby with violet hues into the glass; juicy aromas of cherries, blackberries, plums, and cranberries led the way with chocolate, tobacco, white pepper and spice notes following closely behind; the palate is silky smooth with loads of juicy fruit up front, moving into the earthy notes mid and back palate but not leaving the fruit behind, this is a fruit lovers Cab that was well-balanced with just enough acidity and integrated tannins, full body, with a medium finish that was pleasing, not a complicated, layered Cabernet but certainly an easy drinking, enjoyable cab; 16 months aging in a combination of American and French oak; click here to order
I encourage you to visit the Tom Gore Vineyards to learn more about Tom and the wines he is crafting.
My Song Selection: I have selected a very special song by the legendary Waylon Jennings. The song depicts a conversation between a farming father and his son’s observation of the harsh life of a farmer. It is not accurate to Tom Gore’s story because the son does not want to be a farmer and it is not a grape farming but I think it pairs great with the story and the wines.
Get your own bottles of Tom Gore wines and let me know what song you pair with them. Cheers!
