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We carefully select grapes from the best vineyards in California, Oregon and Washington...
Alder Springs Vineyard - MendocinoAppellation : MendocinoLabel/Varietal: Bellaterra Ranch Rocky Mountain Chardonnay
Located over three hours north of San Francisco , this vineyard relies on elevations as high as 2700 feet for a cooling effect. There's so much to say about this vineyard which grows a number of varietals, but even more to say about the owner Stu Bewley - smart, nice and passionate about what he does. The vines are all planted on steep hillsides with a combination of Scott Henry and Smart Dyson trellising systems with vine density as much as 3300 vines per acre. It's hard to contain our excitement about this vineyard because it represents a combination of people, site, viticulture and a track record with wineries we're honored to be sharing fruit with.
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard - Napa Valley
Appellation : OakvilleLabel/Varietal: Bellaterra Ranch Cowboy Cabernet (2005, 2006, 2007)
This is the site that started the California cult cab mania. It has produced many legendary wines, including 100 point scores from the beloved Robert Parker. This is the oldest vineyard that we work with. The fruit is sourced from a block that was planted with clone 4 in the mid 90's. Consisting mostly of clay loam, it drains well and doesn't retain nutrients. The effect is natural devigoration that results in smaller, more concentrated clusters of fruit. Wines produced from this site have a phenomenal combination of power and silkiness. Many would agree that To Kalon produces the highest quality Cabernet fruit in North America.
Bellflower Vineyard — SonomaThe marine influence brings blankets of cooling fog to this 49-acre site in the heart of the Russian River. Bellflower is planted to clones 114, 115, 667 and 777 primarily on Riparia Gloire, the most devigorating of rootstocks. Like many of the most recent plantings, Bellflower is a high-density site, with more than 2400 vines per acre. Premier Pacific is managing this property and that equates precision viticulture and an absolute commitment to quality over quantity.
Appellation : OakvilleLabel/Varietal: Bellaterra Ranch Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
Game Farm vineyard is off Silverado Trail directly below the Rector
Creek Dam in the Oakville district of Napa Valley. Much of the topsoil
to create the dam was stripped off the valley floor and the rocky
moonscape left behind was then planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. So while
these vines are on the valley floor, the well drained "soil" has more
in common with a rocky hillside location than vines growing in the
loamy soils you expect in the valley. The rows in some portions of this
vineyard look almost as if they were planted down the middle of a
cobblestone street.
Appellation : Howell MountainLabel/Varietal: Bellaterra Ranch Longhorn Cabernet
We've been sourcing grapes from this vineyard for four years. It was planted in 1990 and spans 200 acres of mountainous terrain. This is definitely one of the most visually exciting vineyards we source from. Much of the vineyard is beautifully terraced and it is all well tended. The vineyard is actually planted to a quad trellis that ekes out about 2 to 2.5 tons per acre. This is also one of the more technologically advanced sites, using "stress modules" to determine ripening and enable us to do multiple picks for optimal ripeness.
Kiona Vineyard — WashingtonAppellation : Red MountainLabel/Varietal: Bellaterra Ranch Red Mounta Cabernet Sauvignon
Kiona is the pioneer of Red Mountain. Planted in 1975, it was the original cabernet for Quilceda Creek and currently goes into some of Washington's finest wines. It is one of Red Mountain's highest sites and is planted in weak, well drained soils on a southwest facing slope- perfect growing conditions for cabernet. Its 86 acres are located right between Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun and the resulting wines are consistently powerful and highly structured. For earlier drinking, Kiona cabernet sauvignon is often blended with a bit of merlot to soften it. Wines from Kiona follow closer to the Bordeaux model than Napa and that can be a great thing.
Westerly (McGinley) Vineyard — Santa Barbara
Westerly Vineyard (now known as McGinley) is located in Upper Santa Ynez's Happy Canyon area. Warm days are tempered by a nightly cooling maritime influence that pushes in from the coast to ensure a long growing season. Sitting at an elevation of 800 feet in well-draining sandy soils, the terraced site is perfect for Rhone varietals such as Syrah and Roussanne. The Syrah brings a lot of pepper and warmer climate dark fruits while the Roussanne's complex aromatics, lively acidity and depth show why it's the white wine for red wine lovers.
Gran Moraine Vineyard — OregonAppellation : Willamette ValleyLabel/Varietal: Bellaterra Ranch Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley has a reputation for extremely fickle weather. However, Gran Moraine's 180 acres of Pinot Noir are protected by Oregon's coastal range. The mountains cast a rain shadow, keeping the site much drier than other parts of Willamette Valley, with well-draining Willakenzie ocean sedimentary soils helping to increase vine stress. This block features south and southwest facing exposures to ensure plenty of sun and low vigor -- two factors that help ripening. With up to 2500 vines per acre, Grand Moraine is a very high-density site, planted to Pommard and a variety of Dijon clones.
Doctor's Vineyard — Central CoastAppellation : Santa Lucia HighlandsLabel/Varietal: Bellaterra Ranch Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Marine influenced mornings and afternoon breezes coming off Monterey Bay are the foundation for Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot. This year, we were thrilled to secure fruit from this eastern-facing site that sits near Pisoni Vineyard on the western side of the Salinas River Valley. The 194 acres of Pinot Noir are situated just above the fog line to take advantage of ripening morning sun. Doctor's Vineyard features a variety of clones, spaced at 7' x 10', and planted in sandy-loam top soils with extremely rocky, well-draining subsoils. The loose, nutrient depleted foundation makes vines struggle to produce wonderfully complex fruit flavors with vibrant acidity.
Wentzel Vineyard — MendocinoAppellation : Anderson ValleyLabel/Varietal: Bellaterra Ranch Spotted Mountain Pinot Noir
At a several hundred foot elevation that overlooks Goldeneye in Anderson Valley, this organically farmed vineyard is a feather in our cap. It is about 10 acres and was planted between 2000 and 2002 to clones 115, 667 and 777. The farming is intense with numerous passes being made and no expense spared in pursuit of quality and organic viticulture. This includes sending crews down steep hills with weed-eaters instead of spraying herbicides to kill the weeds in rows, applying organic nutrients such as worm casings (vines love them, kids hate them). There are two different blocks - the older block has a gentler slope and richer soils while the younger block struggles a bit more on a greater slope; we get fruit from both blocks and they were remarkably similar with excellent fruit, color and structure.
White Hawk Vineyard - Central Coast
Appellation : Santa BarbaraLabel/Varietal: Bellaterra Ranch Spotted Saddle Syrah
Somebody pinch us! Modesty aside, we're constantly amazed at the quality of the grapes that we have amassed. Whether it's by Parker points or what's in the glass, this impressive Santa Barbara vineyard is way different from anything else we have. It's 21 miles west of the Pacific and 2 miles north of Los Alamos. Seen Sideways? This vineyard wasn't so far away. It's planted at 900 feet elevation on pure sand that immediately drains off water and nutrients and forces the vines to work extra hard to survive. A strong core of acidity is complemented by elements of meat and blackberries. White Hawk custom farms using sustainable and primarily organic viticulture that yield miniscule and intense berries.