Archives: Vineyards

The hillside of Rovereto has always been considered the historic Great Cru of Gavi, in the municipality of Gavi, and its overall extension is important (approx. 148 acres). Its toponym may derive from the presence of ancient oak forests whose leaves have and unmistakeable shape and the clay soil which is rich in iron. The microclimate is unique due to the sea breezes and the nearby Apennine mountains.

Lunita vineyard is a small plot of ungrafted Pinot Noir vines of masale selection that is farmed in an organic and biodynamic fashion. The soil composition is a mix of clay, pebbles, sand and limestone, however the clay is the predominant element. The vines were planted in the 1950’s and have low yields.

Calcareous Vineyards is located on Peachy Canyon Road in the westside hills of Paso Robles, California. Established in 2000, Calcareous Vineyards is a 442 acre estate that begins about one mile to the west of town and stretches for several miles towards the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Stillwater Creek is an award-winning Columbia Valley vineyard located on a steep, south-facing rise on the Royal Slope of the Frenchman Hills. It is best known for its innovative vineyard management and one of the most diverse clone selections in Washington State. The site’s fractured rock and extreme southern exposure are ideal for reds, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

The Résonance Vineyard is situated in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, which is located within Oregon’s Willamette Valley, just west of Carlton at the foothills of the Coast Range. It is a 13-hectare property, with 8 hectares of the vineyard planted to Pinot Noir. The vineyard sits on a convex portion of a low, west-east oriented ridge emerging out of the Coast Range and lies at an altitude of 80 to 150 meters above sea level. Soils are primarily Willakenzie (old sedimentary deposits) and Yamhill (ancient submarine basaltic soil). With its non-grafted rootstocks planted in 1981, the dry-farmed vineyard is one of the oldest in the Willamette Valley.

The 26-hectare Rimapere Vineyard benefits from its ideal location in Marlborough’s Rapaura region. Guyot-trained 8-10-year-old vines grow in Omaka stony silt loam soils. The soils combined with the cool climate encourage a desireable crisp acidity and lemon and grapefruit character in the finished wines that are typical of this region.

Seven Hills, located along the southern edge of the Walla Walla AVA, is one of the most recognized vineyards in Washington. With an elevation of 850 to 1,050 feet, the site has excellent soil and air drainage and is one of the most technologically advanced in the industry. The vertically trained canopy, controlled cluster spacing and sunlight exposure generates uniform fruit ripeness. Soil moisture is monitored daily by computer with sophisticated drip irrigation scheduled to augment vine development yet limit excessive canopy growth. Yields are strictly controlled to assure ultra-premium quality.

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht’s Heimbourg Vineyard is a small parcel sloping 35% westward, facing Brand Vineyard, then turning abruptly towards the south with the slope increasing to over 50%. The soil structure is a clay-limestone and the hillside enjoys a lengthy period of evening sunshine. Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer are planted here.

Located just below the Brand Grand Cru Vineyard, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht’s 3.2-acre Clos Jebsal Vineyard lies on a marl-limestone geological fault rich in clay and gypsum. The steep slopes of this small parcel face directly south. The Vineyard benefits from a very warm microclimate, protected from the north winds by Brand Mountain.

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht’s Clos Hauserer lies at the foot of the Hengst Grand Cru Vineyard, on a gentle easterly slope. The subsoil is essentially made up of Oligocene conglomerates, marl and limestone. The vineyards is only planted exclusively to Riesling.