Ricci Vineyard
Los Carneros
St. Laurent
Located in the Los Carneros AVA (Sonoma) with its proximity to the San Pablo Bay, Ricci Vineyard is a cool site with thick morning fog and cool afternoon winds. Pioneering Dale Ricci had long ago established his vineyard with pinot noir and chardonnay before he obtained the St. Laurent budwood from a vineyard in Germany in 2000-2001. From that budwood, he propagated his own vines and now has 6 acres of St. Laurent in production. The variety, well-established in Austria and the Czech Republic, has a unique history. Its parentage is a mix of pinot noir and an unknown variety, now thought to be extinct. The resulting wine is something like if pinot noir and syrah had a baby. Fruity, but with distinct framework, color, and spice.
Alfaro Family Vineyard
Santa Cruz Mountains
Grüner Veltliner
Established in 1997 on a former apple orchard, grower Richard Alfaro planted his cool climate Corralitos site to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In 2008 he added Grüner Veltliner to the mix (at the time there was only 10 acres in the state). Austrian varietal, grüner veltliner, excels at this site with its sandy soils and maritime-influenced climate. The resulting wine is full of bracing acidity, but also showcases a variety of citrus and stone fruits and a distinct spice that is quintessential of the variety.
Ferrington Vineyard
Anderson Valley
Chardonnay
First planted in 1969, the majority of the plantings today date from the late 1990’s. Located just outside the town of Boonville, Ferrington is planted to chardonnay, pinot noir, gewürtztraminer, and sauvignon blanc. The vineyard is farmed by Norman Kobler, an Anderson Valley native whose family planted one of the early vineyards here. This southern end of the Anderson Valley experiences some of the greatest diurnal temperature shifts in the valley, and the chardonnay thrives building intense flavor and retaining acidity.