Variety
The Rochioli family has grown grapes on their property since the late ‘50s. The vineyard is now farmed by the third generation.
The vineyard runs along the bank of the Russian River. The vines are in a north-south orientation, so they get excellent east-west sun exposure. The site is low lying and morning fog settles over the vines. This keeps the vines cool, so they retain beautiful natural acidity. Clones: Chardonnay clones include UCDavis 04 and two chardonnay musque selections, Rued and Spring Mountain. The musque selections have a floral, slight muscat-like character. The plantings from 1990 are on AXR-1 rootstock and are 14 X 8. The new block was planted in 2006. They are on O39-16 rootstock and are 12 X 8 spacing.
Site: “Pedregal” means a rocky place in Spanish, and that is certainly a distinguishing feature of the site. This is a small, hillside vineyard on the lower slopes of eastern Oakville that is planted to 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot. In 2008, we agreed to a long-term lease of this vineyard giving us complete control even through change in ownership. Soil: Iron-rich red soil, 85% basalt rock Clonal Selection: The Cabernet Sauvignon is Clone 7. The Petit Verdot is Sterling selection. Planted: The Cabernet Sauvignon was planted on St. George and 110R rootstock with 4'x8' spacing in 1990. The Petit Verdot was planted on 110R rootstock with 4'x6' spacing in 1993.
Cole Creek Vineyard consists of very gravelly Felta clay loam. It is planted with Syrah Alban Selection, Clone 174 and a special Australian selection, along with 6% Viognier. The vineyard was established to our specifications in 2006.
47% from Westside Farms, 39% from Bucher Vineyard and 14% from Keller Estate Soil Arbuckle gravelly loam and Yolo loam alluvial soils Clonal Selection Our Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a blend of Dijon clones 115, 777 and 828 (the La Tache selection) and two heritage selections, Pommard and Swan.
The Platt Vineyard is our coolest site, producing wine that is more focused and mineral driven than fruit driven. Located five miles from the Pacific off Bodega Highway, midway between Sebastopol and Bodega Bay, the vineyard sits at 800' on a south-facing slope overlooking the Estero Americano (which funnels cooling marine weather to the Sacramento delta via the Petaluma Gap). Platt was planted in 2003 Wente selection Chardonnay collected from one of our Hyde Vineyard blocks, the rows are densely planted (3' and 4' by 6') on low-vigor rootstock (420A). In 2010, we removed the Chardonnay trunks from three acres of our 16 acre block and grafted Pommard and 828 Dijon Pinot Noir clones to the rootstock. Located five miles from the Pacific off Bodega Highway, midway between Sebastopol and Bodega Bay, the vineyard sits at 800' on a south-facing slope overlooking the Estero Americano (which funnels cooling marine weather to the Sacramento delta via the Petaluma Gap). Soil is Goldridge Loam uplifted from ancient ocean floor. Planted on low-vigor rootstock (420A) to the Wente selection chosen from one of our Hyde Vineyard blocks. The rows were densely planted (3' and 4' by 6') in 2003.
B-Block planted in 2001. Located north of the Carneros Highway, 2 ¾ miles west of Hyde Vineyard, the terrain here is more rolling than that of Hyde, the soil lighter and more friable. Clones: Wente selection.
This unique property is on the western, cooler side of Sonoma Mountain, which provides the savory character that to us defines Syrah. Our block was planted to our specifications in 2002 and is positioned 800 feet up the southwest face of Sonoma Mountain, in the "Petaluma Gap" which sweeps cool Pacific air past on its way to the Central Valley. Clonal Selection: Planted to Syrah Clones 470 and 877, with three rows of Viognier.
Hyde Vineyard is situated on gently rolling slopes of the Carneros appellation, on the Napa side. The soils are quite heavy Haire Clay Loam about 30 inches deep with impenetrable clay subsoil which limits vine vigor and crop yield. Summer temperatures are kept relatively cool by marine air flowing through the Petaluma Gap. Ancient creek beds provide drainage and add a scattering of rocks. The Ramey Wine Cellars blocks of Chardonnay were planted between 1980 and 1999 and are Wente, Robert Young and Long field selections. Clones: Wente, Robert Young and Long