Vineyards

Del Rio Vineyard

Initially planted in 1962, what is now our Del Rio Vineyard was selected for its promising coastal soil and advantageous situation near the Pacific and the Russian River. A diversity of clones makes this vineyard a veritable spice rack for winemakers during harvest.

Climate: Coastal cool, with heavy fog intrusion
Soil Types:  Arbuckle, gravelly sandy loam, Yolo sandy loam, Zamora silty clay loam

A classic cool-climate site, Del Rio is influenced both by the Russian River and the nearby Pacific Ocean. This beneficial microclimate, coupled with a singular soil mixture of gravelly, sandy loam and silty clay loam, allows the grapes at Del Rio to maintain their acidity and develop nuanced flavors.

Top Pinot Noir Clones:  115, 667, 828, 2A, 23

We grow 44 acres of Pinot Noir at Del Rio, where vines are VSP-trellised, hand-leafed and hand-harvested for optimal quality. Decades after the first vines were planted, this vineyard and famous neighboring sites produce some of the world’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir.

MacMurray Ranch Vineyard

We farm 284 acres of Pinot Noir and a select amount of Pinot Gris at our namesake vineyard, MacMurray Ranch, which was first planted to grapevines in the mid-1990s. Located in the heart of the Russian River Valley AVA, this world-class vineyard spans two distinct climatic zones.

Lower Valley:  Coastal cool, with heavy fog intrusion
Upper Valley: Coastal warm, with moderate fog intrusion

The lower valley of this vineyard lies near the Russian River, where abundant early morning fog keeps the vines very cool. The upper valley, by contrast, sits at a higher elevation and is largely above the fog line, resulting in more hours of sunshine and a measurably warmer growing climate.

Top Pinot Noir Clones:  115, 2A, 23, 667, 777 and Pommard
Soil Types:  Loam to gravelly clay and sandy white soils; Steinbeck & Goldridge series

Because of the varied terroir across the vineyard, there are several different soil types. This diversity of soil, spread across two climatic zones, enables us to cultivate numerous Pinot Noir clones. Loam soil is especially abundant at this vineyard and provides excellent drainage for the vines.

Pinot Noir grapes from MacMurray Ranch give us ripe, dark cherry flavors. The Pinot Gris fruit is grown in the lower valley of the vineyard and develops decadent notes of apple and baked spice.

Laguna Ranch Vineyard

Laguna Ranch Vineyard is named for the Laguna de Santa Rosa, the largest tributary of the Russian River. A heritage site, it was planted as far back as the 1800s and has been home to world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for more than 30 years.

Lower Elevation: Coastal cool, with heavy fog intrusion
Higher Elevation: Coastal warm, with moderate fog intrusion

Located about 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Laguna Ranch flourishes under the cooling fog that rolls in each morning, giving way to abundant sunshine by mid-day. This classic Russian River Valley fog extends the growing season here, making it about 20 percent longer than neighboring regions. Extra time on the vine allows the grapes to mature slowly and develop intense, robust flavors, while retaining their crisp acidity.

Top Pinot Noir Clones:  115, 667, 777, 828, Pommard, 2A, 23, Calera
Soil Types:  Sandy loam to gravelly clay loam

The renowned soil at Laguna Ranch, known as the Sebastopol Series, is a combination of gravelly and sandy loam formed from soft sandstone on ancient coastal terraces. This well-drained soil is ideal for winegrowing. Together with a significant amount of Chardonnay, we grow 21 acres of Pinot Noir here.

With an eye to sustainability, 30 acres of Laguna Ranch Vineyard were set aside in 2003 for the preservation of natural wetlands, birds and wildlife.

Two Rock Vineyard

Our coolest Pinot Noir vineyard in the Russian River Valley was named for two rocks that the Miwuk and Pomo Native American tribes passed through for good luck on journeys inland. Today, Two Rock Vineyard benefits from the cool winds and heavy fog that blanket the vines each day.

Climate: Coastal cool with heavy fog

Two Rock is our coolest vineyard during the summer, when brisk winds from the Pacific Ocean travel at speeds up to 50MPH inland through the Petaluma Wind Gap, blowing over our vineyard. In the winter, by contrast, this is our warmest vineyard, as heavy fog insulates the vines from excessive cold.

Top Pinot Noir Clones:  115, 2A, 23
Soil Types:  Sandy loam to gravelly clay loam

Together with Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, we farm 223 acres of Pinot Noir here on largely loamy soils. Thanks to its unique, warm winter-cool summer composition, Two Rock experiences bud break early—ahead of all of our other Russian River Valley vineyards—and has an extended growing season, giving the grapes ample time to mature on the vine and retain their natural acidity. Strong, cool winds promote grapes with thicker skins, resulting in wines with intensely concentrated flavor.

Olson Ranch Vineyard

We are tremendously proud to farm our Olson Ranch Vineyard, where it is believed grapes were planted as early as 1791. Nestled in the Central Coast’s Santa Lucia Mountains, the vineyard’s elevation ranges from 600 feet to 1,400 feet, with more than 390 acres planted to Pinot Noir.

Climate: Coastal cool with heavy fog intrusion

Though it has a predominantly cool, windy climate influenced by the Monterey Bay, Olson Ranch is partially sheltered from the wind by canyons, creating multiple microclimates across the vineyard. Grapes that see the most wind develop thicker skins, enhancing their color and flavor, while those sheltered from the wind exhibit delicate, elegant characteristics.

Top Pinot Noir Clones:  667, 828, 115, 2A, 23
Soil Types:  Clay loam over fractured limestone, sandy loam

Our Olson Ranch Vineyard features 80 different vineyard blocks, ranging from one acre to 30 acres in size, with 15 unique Pinot Noir clones. Hillside vines grow in clay loam soil over an ancient seabed of fractured limestone, while flatter areas have alluvial soils, such as sandy loam, caused by erosion from the hills above.

These myriad variations in sun and wind exposure, soils, and clones create a rich tapestry to draw upon as we craft our Pinot Noir offerings from the Central Coast.