The Vineyards
The long journey to fine wine starts in the vineyard...
All the Chardonnay vineyards were planted to various ‘Wente’ selections. These are the descendants with slight genetic differences within each and from there original planted parentage in California. These vineyards are unique to most Chardonnay vineyards in that they manifest the virus which come naturally to the vine with small bunches and shot berries making for concentrated wines. There are only two of these exceptional Chardonnay vineyards that are not in west Sonoma County. These were too good to pass up and are obviously vineyard designated. They are the Durell 'Sand Hill' Ranch and Green Acres Hill from the Sangiacomo ranch. Located in the Sonoma Coast appellation, which overlaps the Southern Sonoma Valley and Carneros appellations respectively, they get their marine influence from the San Pablo Bay to the south. We have two other vineyard designated Chardonnays at this writing and these are both located in west county. They are the Lorenzo Vineyard and the Rued Ranch farmed by the Dutton family both in the Russian River Valley. Both of these vineyards are well over 30 years of age. Another vineyard just planted to the same wood as that of the Durell, (known as the Hyde selection) is a three acre block by the Dutton family on their home ranch in Graton. We should see some fruit from this eagerly anticipated vineyard in 2010.
All of our Pinot Noir vineyard efforts are concentrated in Sonoma's ‘West County’. Original home of the Gravenstein apple, many of these old orchards are currently being replanted to grapes. We feel this cool area/soils/clones combination is ideal to produce Pinots with concentration and yet maintain elegant varietal character which can rival any in the world including Burgundy. Most of these vineyards are being planted to Burgundy’s Dijon clones, however, we are ‘T’ budding or converting some of these vineyards to a clone called Calera, as well as having some new vineyards planted to this clone. This clone makes for an even more intense wine with even more weight. Let’s take a tour of the area and see these vineyards. We head out from the winery to the south and travel along Highway 116 through downtown Sebastopol to the newly proposed sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley, called Sebastopol Hills. It is here we work with two vineyards, the Twin Hill Ranch and the Umino vineyard. We then go a little further south to Ken Goodin’s vineyard on Blank road. We are currently working with Will Petersen on a planting contract just around the corner from Blank but just outside of these appellations and in the Sonoma Coast appellation. It is here we will have some exciting Calera Pinot. Working our way back to the north but west of Sebastopol on Bodega highway we come to Jim Pratt’s Sexton road vineyard as well as William Rayhill’s vineyard off of Tilton road. These vineyards are on the second ridge before we get to the town of Freestone. Before going to the Joyce vineyard on Barnett Valley road on the first ridge above Freestone we hop over to Occidental road make a stop on Furlong at the Bailey vineyard. Getting back on Bodega Highway and after we leave the Joyce vineyard we reach the town of Freestone where one of our finest offerings comes from; a two vineyard bottling called Freestone Station. One of these vineyards is from the Dutton family and the other from Mike Ferguson’s vineyard just down the road. Traveling a little further north through the town of Occidental to Harrison Grade is the Holder vineyard. Then heading back to Gravenstein Highway and the winery we come to Sylvia's vineyard which is just west of the town of Graton, owned and farmed by the Dutton’s.
We have worked very hard to obtain these world class vineyards. Luck often follows hard work and we are certainly lucky to work with these dedicated farmers. Each vineyard was selected for the specific relationship between the clone and the microclimate. Please feel free to peruse the vineyards and see what makes them special – you can click on each above or go to the list on the corresponding varietals tab located just under the vineyard tab.
