Parallel Wines

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Parallel Est. Vineyard The Parallel Estate is a 62 Acre property located at the upper reaches of Conn Valley, overlooking Lake Hennessey. Geographically, it is situated about one and one-half miles east of the Silverado Trail, and just south of St Helena. To date, only seven acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. We plan to increase the planted acreage to approximately ten acres over the next few years. We also maintain several grape growing contracts which produce excellent fruit. Terroir - Heart and Soul We commonly think of terrior as the soil and the microclimate of a particular vineyard, which give the fruit its identifiable character, a consistency and sense of the place, year after year. Terrior is also defined by the people. Parallel is made up of its passionately involved partners, one of the world's most dedicated and skilled winemakers, and arguably Napa Valley's most experienced and talented vineyard manager. For nearly 10 years this same team has been dedicated to the development of Parallel. To a large extent it is the place that defines a wine, but these people provide the direction and the finishing touch. About Jim Barbour and Vineyard Management When the Parallel partner group decided to create Parallel Wines, they knew there was only one name to know when choosing a vineyard manager: Jim Barbour. Jim grew up in Napa Valley in the 1960s, pruning 30 acres of grapes, prunes and apples with his two stepbrothers on their ranch in Rutherford. A few years later, when the valley's wine industry kicked into high gear, Jim convinced his father to plant five acres of Chardonnay. Soon those vines were more profitable than the other 25 acres, and Jim had found his calling. He now manages more than 600 vineyard acres all over Napa Valley, including many that produce California's most prized wines. In addition to their cooperation on Parallel, Jim is working with winemaker Philippe Melka on wines for Lail and Hundred Acre. With so much experience under his belt, Jim has learned that the key to successful winemaking is matching the soil type to the vine. The right combination allows the fullest expression of both to shine through in the wine. "Our viticulture has gone to the next level in Napa Valley," Jim says. "We don't farm anymore; we garden. We tend to our vineyards on a vine-by-vine basis, each with its own name. What I do is plant the best rootstocks and the best clones that work for the site, treat them well, and let nature do the rest."

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