Zinfandel Vineyard

11 Acres

Our Zinfandel in cropped to yield no more than 3 tons per acres.

Zinfandel is planted on a gently north-sloping, rocky river terrace on an uplifted fault block well above the valley floor. The soil is the Glen Ellen alluvial formation consisting of some 80 to 100` of well-drained cobbles, boulders and unsorted smaller rocks with clay and sand lenses. Underlying bedrock is a series of volcanics of lava and rhyolite flows and volcanic tuffs. Soil and sub soil are estimated to be over 30% boulders and unsorted rocks of assorted sizes, some up to four feet in diameter. This coarse material was deposited by violently flowing rivers eroding material from the Maycamas range to the east. The thin topsoil is 18 to 22" thick.

Such dry, coarse soil material required the selection of a tough aggressive rootstock. We picked St. George and its cousin 110R. St. George is well known for its compatibility with Zinfandel.

Our clone, U.C. Davis Zinfandel FPMS 1A, has been successfully used statewide to produce great Zinfandel vintages for 50-years. It was selected in the 1960s by U.C. Davis professors Olmo, Lider, and Alley from vines in a special Zinfandel test block. The selected source vines showed typical Zinfandel growth characteristics relative to leaves, canes, minimum leaf roll plus classic Zinfandel bunch weight, berry size, color, and fruit flavors and aromas. Bunches are medium-sized, approximately 0.6 pounds per bunch.

Grapes for winemakers

Noticed our winery is small, while our property is big? Wondering if there's a chance we'd part with any of these prized grapes? Give us a call (707) 833-4312.