2018 Petite Sirah – Diablo Vineyard

The Diablo Vineyard sits at sea level providing fertile soil with an abundance of nutrients. We continuously manage both the nutrient and water levels to ensure the winegrapes develop strong flavors.

Weather is a key element of farming – it plays a crucial role in the health of our vines and winegrapes. Daily temperatures and rainfall come together to dictate the growing season, making each vintage distinctive. 2018 was a long and even season with moderate conditions and mild summer weather. This allowed the winegrapes to mature slowly with even ripening, pushing our start of harvest to August 6^th, 10 days later than the previous two years. The overall moderate to cool harvest conditions were good for flavor development, but on October 3^rd we endured rain showers. Luckily the following two weeks were dry and sunny helping finish the sugar accumulation in our mid to late ripening varietals. We ended harvest in November, one of the latest in recent memory, with particularly good quality and spectacular color in the red varietals and white varietals with sound flavor and acid development.

CLARKSBURG AVA – Located on the Sacramento River in the heart of the Delta, the Clarksburg AVA has a profound maritime influence. Cool mornings give way to warm afternoons and temperatures quickly cool again in the evenings. With land at or below sea level, the fertile soil attracts and holds nutrients and water which calls for constant monitoring.