Identity

This land has an identity.   These mountains, this soil, the rocks, the quality of air and the wind. All these traits contribute to a character unique to this very part of the earth. Our goal as a family is to work with nature, through farming and crafting wines, and to preserve this identity in wines that express this very site.

The personality of this land was first recognized when Gary Pisoni began planting grapes in 1982 — some of the very first in this region. Each year we learn more about the characteristics of our vineyards, farming and winemaking to steadily improve the sustainability of what we do, and the wines we strive to create.

Gary Pisoni is obsessive about low yields. His vineyard management is meticulous, bordering on fanatical.

Matt Kramer, Making Sense of California Wine
The rugged contours of the range require flexibility, nimble thinking, and dedicated approaches to grape growing.
The rugged contours of the range require flexibility, nimble thinking, and dedicated approaches to grape growing.

PHILOSOPHY

We approach winemaking as an art, a science, and a craft. As such, from planting to pruning to harvesting, we work by hand, in accordance both with Burgundian tradition and our own ongoing understanding of what will best sustain this land we love and respect.

Daily walks through the vineyards allow Gary and Mark to augment and hone their expert knowledge of the relation between soil, weather, and plants.
Daily walks through the vineyards allow Gary and Mark to augment and hone their expert knowledge of the relation between soil, weather, and plants.