Vineyards

We’re lucky to get grapes from top growers in El Dorado, Clarksburg, Central Coast, and the West Sonoma Coast.

Our goal from the start has been to only work with vineyards that are meticulously and sustainably farmed, have a true sense of terroir, and are managed by people we respect and trust.

We source from mostly organic or bio-dynamic vineyards, managed by teams dedicated to producing world class wine. Many of our growers and vineyard managers are close friends, which enables us to collaborate with shared beliefs of sustainability and quality.

Campbell Ranch Vineyard

Sonoma Coast

Located in the tiny hamlet of Annapolis about 5 miles from the ocean, Campbell Ranch is carved out of a redwood and pine grove perched on a ridge at 750′ elevation. It takes the brunt of coastal fog and breezes that usher in from the coast through the Gualala River drainage, and epitomizes the rugged and remote coastal vibe that is the West Sonoma Coast.

The vineyard is managed by the highly respected Ulises Valdez, who took over the property after it was tied up in a long-term contract for years by one of the big boys. Now this highly coveted Pinot noir has found its way into the hands of small, passionate, and quality-driven winemakers, and we are thankful to get a few tons every year.

Baranoff Vineyard

Russian River Valley

The Baranoff Vineyard is a 3-acre parcel overlooking Laguna de Santa Rosa in the heart of Sebastopol. The lagoon acts as a conveyor for the coastal fog which ebbs and flows throughout the growing season, creating moderate temperatures and cooling breezes. The vineyard is planted to seven clones (Calera, Swan, 113, 115, 459, 667, 777) on high-density 4×3 spacing, which results in twice as many vines per acre. This provides indirect sunlight (important with thin-skinned varietals like Pinot) and increases competition among the vines, resulting in lower yields per vine and intense fruit. The soils are the well-draining loams of the Goldridge Series that are prized in the region.

Paul Sloan of Small Vines farms this non-certified organic vineyard, and it is meticulous. Paul is a passionate, Type A farmer — 2 traits we like a lot when it comes to growing great fruit. His attention to detail in the vineyard makes the job much easier in the winery, because the Pinot looks perfect and tastes delicious when it arrives.

Merritt Island Vineyard

Clarksburg

Clarksburg has long been an agricultural force with its fertile, alluvial loam soils and its close proximity to an endless supply of fresh water. Merritt Island, the AVA from where we source our Chenin Blanc, sits in the heart of the Clarksburg AVA.

In the late 1800’s the government formed the Bureau of Reclamation, which allowed people to reclaim land deemed ruined by flooding. If someone could make the land again suitable for farming, they would own it. The Holland Land Company used their resources to improve existing levees by extrating silt from the delta riverbed and building it onto the levees. This increased the capacity of the surrounding waterways and drastically reduced the likelihood of future flooding. Then they sold parcels of the newly reclaimed land to ambitious young farmers.

That’s how the Wilson family came to buy their land in Clarksburg in 1921. 50 years later they planted their first fine wine grapes, and in 2004, when Chris was working at Williams Selyem, he became friends with 4th generation Wilson family member David Ogilvie. David is continuing his family’s tradition today – he lives on Merritt Island, grows our Chenin Blanc grapes, and keeps an eye on the water table for us and his community. In 1984 Clarksburg received its official designation as a distinguished American Viticultural Area. Grape maturation is tempered and the growing season extended by the cool delta breeze and the fog that blows up from the San Francisco Bay. This slow and steady maturation helps develop the Chenin’s nice acidity, rich mouthfeel, and beautiful aromatics.

Las Cimas Vineyard

Sonoma Coast

This beautiful vineyard is located on the western side of Dry Creek in Healdsburg. In 2021 we sourced our first fruit, Fiano, from the steep slopes of this organically farmed site. We are blown away by the quality and hope to enjoy many vintages to come.

Barsotti Vineyard

El Dorado

The vineyard is situated at 2,690′ elevation at the edge of the American River canyon, a few miles from Placerville. The site is cooled by its high elevation and close proximity to the river, with soils comprised of decomposed granite. The wine it yields is structured yet playful with a fruit-driven core. We’ve been living in Gamay Country since we moved to the El Dorado region in 2010 – 80% of California Gamay was grown here last year. That said, Gamay production in the US is tiny, and El Dorado’s entire yield of Gamay equates to only 36 tons crushed throughout the entire state.

Duarte-Georgetown Vineyard

El Dorado

Planted in 2002 by John and Alexandra Duarte, this lovely vineyard is situated at 2,500 feet. At 90 acres, it’s one of the largest high-elevation vineyards in California. The soils are deep red clay loam planted to high-density. We use its Pinot noir in our Rose and High Country Red passe-tout-grains style blend.