Our vineyard faces east and southeast; the alluvial soils consist of loam mixed with copious rocks and gravel, an outcropping of volcanic rhyolite and sand and round stones from the ancient course of the nearby creek.  The complexity of the soils leads to complexity in our wines. In analyzing the site, seven trenches dug with a backhoe, showed seven different soil profiles. Our vineyard is farmed organically and has eight different vinifera (wine grape) clones planted on three rootstocks:  a combination of California “legacy” clones selected from historic vineyards and clones more recently imported from Bordeaux.  We prune the vines and thin the grape crop to ensure low yields and uniformly ripe fruit.

Regardless of the grape varietal or vintage, the wines from our vineyard tend to be highly perfumed and soft and silky in texture.  They have abundant but fine tannins and age well. 

Many notable vineyards are located near ours on the West St. Helena alluvial plain.  About a half a mile from our property, in an arc from the north to the southeast, are David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch, Spottswoode, the Abreu Capella Vineyard, the Beckstoffer La Piedras Vineyard, the Bressler Vineyard and the Hayne Vineyard.

We also purchase grapes from other vineyards that share our focus on quality.  In the past, these have included the Stagecoach Vineyard, in the mountains east of Oakville and the Kenefick Ranch, east of the town of Calistoga.