Our Vineyards

 
 

It started with blueberries and a bit of experimentation

When Joseph and his wife Janice purchased an abandoned apple orchard in Corralitos, CA, Joseph decided to plant multiple varieties of blueberries – a surprising choice for the area in 2004. Strawberries, blackberries and raspberries were the norm, not blueberries, which (Joseph learned) are a finicky crop. Yet, his early experimentation with crops set the tone for a later decision to plant wine grape varietals that weren’t being grown in their AVA.

“Growing blueberries and selling them at the Los Gatos and Saratoga farmers markets was fun and educational for our family, especially since the girls were in their teens at the time. The experience provided an opportunity to interact with the community while practicing business and mathematics skills,” he says.

 

Wine grapes and an affinity for Spanish varietals

Evolving their relationship to the land, Janice and Joseph planted 10 acres of grapevines in 2013 and an additional eight acres in 2020. This intrepid move required enormous amounts of hands-on work and intense study of common viticulture practices, as well as novel theories. “If you want something done right, you do it yourself,” they said of their undertaking.

They chose chardonnay, pinot noir, syrah and tempranillo — a red grape grown mainly in the Rioja region of Spain. Noting the similarities between Rioja’s soil types and temperature compared to his vineyard location, Joseph called a wine grape nursery. He and the proprietor found one hearty tempranillo clone that is compatible with their cooler climate, soil and water composition. As an experiment, he planted one acre.

Finding success with tempranillo, Joseph later planted albariño, an aromatic white grape from northwest Spain. Our first vintage of albariño will be in 2023-2024. Stop by our tasting room to sample our wines.

 

Vineyard Facts

  • AVA: Santa Cruz Mountains

  • Total Acreage: 18

  • Varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tempranillo and Albariño began as bench-grafted 2-year-old bare root plants

  • Soil: Variations of gravely loam with clay on decomposed sandstone

  • Orientation: Our south-facing vineyard experiences morning fog and steady afternoon winds coming from Monterey Bay. A diurnal temperature variation of up to 35 degrees Fahrenheit each day leads to grape berries with thicker skins and more intense color. This unique environment produces wines with unparalleled complexity and depth of flavor.