Vineyards

In Burgundy, it is said that, “wine is made in the vineyard.” We quite agree, and accordingly, all of our fruit comes from some of the finest vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations. Pinot Noir is perhaps the most elusive and exacting of all wine grapes, more clearly reflecting its environment than almost any other varietal. As a result, along with our winemaker Ed Kurtzman, we have selected a small and dedicated portfolio of partner vineyards to cultivate the exceptional fruit used in our wines. When choosing these vineyards we focused on soil, topography and clonal selection, all keys to growing grapes filled with flavor and personality. In addition, we looked for passionate growers who are highly sensitive to the subtleties of Pinot Noir grapes, and are committed to the meticulous crop management and low yields necessary for producing world-class fruit.

We currently work closely with a number of outstanding vineyards including Klopp Ranch, Keefer Ranch, Black Emerald and Heintz Ranch (Chardonnay). We, and especially our winemaker, Ed Kurtzman, frequently visit the vineyards - tasting grapes, observing their seeds for maturity, and gauging sugar levels to determine the optimal time to harvest. Picking is gently done by hand in order to minimize damage to the grapes, while enabling individual selection of the best clusters. Harvest is always scheduled for early morning hours so that the fruit remains ideally cool, with destemming occurring without delay.