Grenache Noir

“At its simplest grenache makes round, heart-warming wines. At its best it has real majesty, making full-bodied wines with a sensation of sweetness due to the amount of alcohol and glycerol. It can become complex and spicy, with flavors reminiscent, some say, of rich fruit cake.”-Marcel Orford Williams

Our blocks of Grenache consist of Alban and Rasteau clone selections on St. George rootstock, and Alban clones on 420A rootstock.

Grenache Blanc

Originating from the Rhône region of France Grenache Blanc is known for producing medium to full-bodied and fruit forward wines, with a range of flavors from citrus and stone fruit to green apples and pear. The fruit forward character of wines made from Grenache Blanc are well balanced by its crisp acidity. Grenache Blanc can stand alone or be blended with other grape varieties, such as Roussanne and Viognier, to create complex and nuanced white wines. Our Grenache Blanc is well suited for a variety of wine styles, from still to sparkling and from dry to sweet.

Our blocks of Grenache Blanc are Tablas clone selection on 420A rootstock.

Roussanne

Thought to have originated in the Northern Rhône, Roussanne is also grown throughout the Southern Rhône, where it’s one of the varietals used in making Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Known for its complex and rich flavor profile, Roussanne produces wines that are characterized by a creamy texture and bright floral aromas with flavors of stone fruit, honey, baked bread, nuts and spices. Although it can be enjoyed young, due to its high acidity, Roussanne has the potential to age gracefully for 15 to 20 years, and develop more complex notes with time.

Our Roussanne consists of Rasteau clone selections on 3309 rootstock.

Syrah

Syrah is another one of our Rhône varietals. Syrah wines are known for bold, full-bodied character and rich, dark fruit flavors of blackberry, plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, and peppery notes. Syrah has a high tannin level and bright acidity which provides structure, complexity and depth that lends to aging. Syrah can also be made to be enjoyed young and fresh. Our Syrah can stand alone or be used in blends with varietals such as our Grenache Noir to add depth and complexity.

We farm several blocks of Syrah with Alban clone on 420A rootstock and La Herradura clone on 101-14 rootstock.

Tempranillo

Tempranillo is one of the true gems of our vineyard. Originating from Spain it produces medium to full-bodied wines, with flavors of black cherries, plums and leather sometimes accompanied by toasted vanilla-caramel oak notes. Notes of tobacco and spices develop as this wine matures. It has high tannins and moderate to high acidity, which contributes to its aging potential.

Our Tempranillo can be made into a style of wine to be enjoyed young and fruit-forward or aged for a mature and complex wine. Our terroir is high elevation and has a very warm climate similar to Central Spain.

We have an exceptional block of these winegrapes that are propagated from vines from the world renown Dominio de Pingus in the Ribera Del Duero region of Spain. We also have a premium block of Tempranillo consisting of Pesquera clone selection on 101-14 rootstock.

Zinfandel

Though it is often referred to as America’s Claret, Zinfandel is native to the Dalmatian island of Solta just off the coast of Spilt, in Croatia. Zinfandel is known for its bold, full-bodied flavors with taste profiles ranging from juicy berry and jammy fruit to black pepper and spice. Zinfandel is one of the most versatile grapes in winemaking, producing everything from light and fruity rosés to rich and hearty reds.

Our Zinfandel can be made as a standalone varietal or as a component of a blend. A number of winemakers have sourced its neighboring Petite Sirah when sourcing our Zinfandel.

We farm a block of head trained Zinfandel, and a block of cane pruned to wire Zinfandel. Both consist of Chiles Mill clone selection on St. George rootstock.

Petite Sirah

It is the offspring of the two French Rhône grapes Syrah and Peloursin. Petite Sirah, called Durif outside of the United States, originated further south in Tullins. It is known for its extraordinary deep color and full-bodied flavors of blueberry, chocolate, plums and black pepper. Petite Sirah is one of the deepest, most opaque red wines with very high levels of anthocyanin (an antioxidant). Similarly colored wines to Petite Sirah include Tannat and Sagrantino.

Our Petite Sirah is propagated from Palisades Vineyards-Carver-Sutro Winery (Calistoga) on St. George rootstock.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Originally grown in the Bordeaux region of France, Cabernet Sauvignon is a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It is considered to be one of the "noble" grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon is well-suited to warm, sunny climates and is often grown in regions with hot, dry summers. It is known for full-bodied, rich and tannic character, which can be described as having notes of black currant, black cherry, and sometimes chocolate or cassis. While it can be enjoyed young it is also known for its high tannin content, which gives the wine a robust structure and contributes to its aging and cellaring potential. When aged for several years, Cabernet Sauvignon can develop secondary flavors and aromas of leather, tobacco, and earth.

Our blocks come from cuttings made in the Wente Heritage blocks that were originally propagated by Charles Wetmore in the 1880s at Cresta Blanca Estate. Wetmore’s cuttings were said to hail from Margaux and are the foundation of clone 7. Wetmore brought the original material that eventually became FPS Clone 30 amongst others. Harry See brought these selections to the Napa Valley in the late 50s.

Our Cabernet Sauvignon is propagated from the See selection on St. George rootstock.