Alta Marfa Winery

Nestled in the high desert of Marfa, Texas, Alta Marfa Winery is redefining what's possible in American winemaking. This is not your typical winery. It's a project rooted in a deep respect for the land, a commitment to minimal intervention, and a passion for crafting unique, terroir-driven wines. For a blog post, this technical overview will delve into the key elements that define Alta Marfa's unique approach.

Terroir: The High-Altitude Advantage

The foundation of Alta Marfa's winemaking is its distinctive terroir, primarily centered in the Davis Mountains AVA of West Texas. While the winery sources grapes from several vineyards across Texas and New Mexico, the Davis Mountains offer a unique combination of factors that are ideal for viticulture:

• High Elevation: Vineyards in this region sit at elevations ranging from 1,780 to over 5,400 feet. This high altitude contributes to a significant diurnal temperature shift—warm days followed by cool nights—which is crucial for grape ripening. The cool nights help to slow down the ripening process, allowing grapes to develop complex flavors and retain acidity, a key factor in producing balanced wines.

• Volcanic and Mineral-Rich Soils: The Davis Mountains are formed by volcanic activity, resulting in soils that are often rocky, well-draining, and rich in minerals. This type of soil stresses the vines, leading to lower yields but more concentrated, flavorful grapes. The specific soil composition—volcanic, limestone, and sandy loam—is a point of focus for Alta Marfa, with some wines specifically highlighting the influence of a particular soil type.

• Arid Climate: The arid, high-desert climate minimizes disease pressure and allows for a more natural approach to farming, with less need for fungicides and pesticides. The low humidity and strong winds also play a role in keeping the vines healthy.

Vineyard Practices: A Focus on Sustainability and Health

Alta Marfa's philosophy extends to the vineyards they work with, which are all committed to sustainable, low-impact farming. The winery's own vineyards are a testament to this, with a focus on soil health and environmental preservation. Key practices include:

• Dry Farming and Targeted Irrigation: In the dry environment of West Texas, irrigation is a necessary tool, but Alta Marfa's approach is strategic. They have a buried drip irrigation system to ensure water goes directly to the roots and isn't lost to evaporation from the sun and wind. In their own vineyards, they are experimenting with own-rooted varietals and native cover crops to promote a healthy ecosystem and reduce the need for external inputs.

• Minimal Chemical Intervention: Alta Marfa partners with farmers who practice minimal or no spraying of herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides. This approach allows the true character of the grapes to shine and aligns with their natural winemaking philosophy.

• Site-Specific Varieties: Recognizing the challenges and opportunities of their terroir, Alta Marfa has moved toward planting grape varieties that are well-suited to the region's climate. They are focusing on hardy grapes from similarly dry, rocky climates, such as red Portuguese varieties (Touriga Franca, Touriga Brasileira) and Cinsault, and have also worked with grapes like Montepulciano and Tempranillo which have proven successful.

Winemaking: A Hands-Off, Natural Approach

Alta Marfa's winemaking style can be described as "non-interventionist" or "low-intervention." This means they rely on natural processes to guide the transformation of grape to wine, rather than using a long list of additives and techniques.

• Spontaneous Fermentation: The wines are fermented using indigenous yeasts that are naturally present on the grapes and in the winery environment. This allows for a more complex and authentic expression of the terroir, as opposed to using a commercial yeast strain.

• No Fining, Filtering, or Acidification: The wines are not fined or filtered, which helps preserve their natural flavors, aromas, and texture. This can result in a slightly hazy appearance, a characteristic often associated with natural wines. They also do not acidify their wines, trusting the high-altitude climate to provide the necessary natural acidity.

• Minimal Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): Sulfur is a common preservative in winemaking, but Alta Marfa uses it sparingly, often adding only a small amount (around 20 ppm) just before bottling to ensure stability. This minimal use allows the wines to be more vibrant and expressive.