Pasterick Vineyard

Open: Year Round

Our family hillside vineyard in Dry Creek Valley was originally planted in the early 1900's. Today, our vineyard blocks scale hillsides with slopes ranging from 20% to 45%. Long sunny temperate days with morning fog and cooling evening breezes provide perfect natural elements for growing Syrah and Viognier. Our 9.8 acre vineyard is divided into six small blocks of Syrah and four small blocks of Viognier. Two of the Syrah blocks were planted in 1990, two planted in 1998, one in 1999 with the last block planted in 2001. The Viognier blocks were planted in 2001, a second block in 2006 and the final two blocks planted in 2009. Each block is distinct in soil composition, vine spacing, trellis system, exposure, topography and fruit. The Syrah is cordon pruned while the Viognier is cane pruned.

The property has two distinct geological hills. The red hill is three to four million year old Sonoma volcanics with deep red clay, while the brown hill is one hundred twenty million year old bed rock. We have the Chapoutier clone of Syrah on St. George roots stock on both hills with similar trellis systems and sun exposure. The red hill produces red/blue fruit with hints of cocoa, while the brown hill produces black fruit and spices. We keep the wine from the two hills separate and blend them together just prior to bottling.