Vineyard History

Our vineyard property was purchased in 1968 as a French prune and walnut orchard.During the following year it was separated into two distinct blocks OSRI and OSRII. The following is a chronological list of events from 1969 to present for each vineyard.

OSRI

1969	This six acre parcel was cleared of the prune and walnut trees and St. George rootstock was planted.
1970	We grafted a UCD5 Pommard clone.
1971	A two wire, vertical trellising system was introduced for vine management.
1973	This was our inaugural harvest and we started making Pinot Noir on a private label.
1975	We started selling fruit to Robert Mondavi; the first winery to purchase our fruit.
1978-1983	We entered our Pinot Noir in wine making contests and won blue ribbons in Napa, Sonoma and Santa Rosa counties.
1983-1995	We continued perfecting our Pinot Noir, while selling fruit to top Napa Valley wineries.
1996-1997	We cleared the entire vineyard and planted 3309 and 5C rootstock.
1998	We grafted in a French 115 Dijoin clone.
1999	A new vertical trellising system was introduced for a "cane pruning" style of vine management.
2000	A "drip" irrigation system was added.
2001	This was the inaugural harvest of the new vines.
2001-present	This fruit was used for our Pinot Noir and also sold to Acacia and Saintsbury wineries.
2003	We inter planted more 3309 rootstock and the following year we grafted in a UCD5 Pommard clone.

OSRII

1969	This five acre parcel was French prune and walnut trees.
1975-1976	The parcel was cleared of the trees and AXR rootstock was planted.
1977	We grafted in a UCD5 Pommard clone.
1978	A two wire vertical trellising system was introduced for vine management.
1979	A "drip" irrigation system was added.
1981	This was our inaugural harvest.
1982-1989	We used this fruit for our private label Pinot Noir and sold any remaining fruit to home wine makers.
1989-2001	We continued perfecting our Pinot Noir and sold our fruit to Saintsbury winery.
2002-present	We continue our "Pinot passion" and sell fruit to Domaine Carneros Winery.

CLV
In addition to our estate vineyards we manage the farming under long-term contract of Cabernet Lane Vineyard. This one acre parcel produces some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon fruit in the Rutherford appellation.