The Vineyards
Heintz Vineyard
Among the closest vineyards to the coastline in the Sonoma Coast AVA, Heintz Vineyard rests atop the second ridge from the Pacific Ocean. Tended by third-generation farmer Charles Heintz, whose family has owned this extraordinary site for more than a century, Heintz is revered for the restrained, almost Chablis-like character it imparts in its wines.
A combination of nutrient-poor, fine sandy loam soils, fiercely cold air and thick marine fog pushes the vines to struggle, concentrating their flavor in fewer grape clusters. Chardonnay ripens later here, translating to abundant natural acidity in the glass. We also source select Chardonnay blocks from nearby Morelli, Dutton and Sullivan vineyards, a trio of cool-climate Sonoma Coast sites whose proximity to the ocean is unmistakable on the palate.
Appellation:
Sonoma Coast
Year planted to wine grapes:
1980
Elevation:
750 feet
Soil type:
Goldridge sandy loam
Average growing season temperatures:
Low of 49°F, High of 76°F
Bien Nacido Vineyards
The vines at Bien Nacido Vineyards, a standout among Pinot Noir sites, rest in the shadow of a striking rock face, whose shards of Monterey Shale imbue the soil, and ultimately the wines, with pronounced minerality. An agricultural site for nearly 200 years, Bien Nacido traces its roots to the Spanish land grants of the early 19th Century. In modern times, the vineyard is meticulously tended by fifth-generation California farming family, the Millers, who purchased the land in 1969 and planted its first wine grapes more than 40 years ago.
Nestled just a few miles from the Pacific, the upper bench of Bien Nacido sees thick fog, creating a lengthy growing season. More time on the vine transforms the fruit in powerful ways, specifically lignified grape stems and brown seeds, atypical for Pinot Noir. This translates to a greater depth of flavor and softer, rounder tannins in the wines grown here.
Appellation:
Santa Maria Valley
Year planted to wine grapes:
1973
Elevation:
500 feet
Soil type:
Pleasanton very sandy fine loam
Average growing season temperatures:
Low of 49°F, High of 76°F
