Thomasen’s Split Rail Vineyard
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS AVA
Split Rail is located in the Corralitos district of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains, about seven miles from Monterey Bay. Planted in the mid-80s in sandstone and clay soils at 1,700 ft, the .75-acre dry-farmed vineyard is surrounded by redwoods and madrones. The ‘24 vintage was my first vintage farming this beautiful, organic, and quintessentially SCM site. Prior to ’24, the vineyard was farmed by Ken Swegles and his team at Skyline Viticulture. The ridgetop vineyard lends itself to herbal, red-fruited, and floral cool-climate syrah.
Redwood Grade Vineyard
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS AVA
Redwood Grade was planted by Richard Hanke in 2020 and has been farmed organically since its inception. Just below the summit of Mt. Madonna and surrounded by towering redwoods, the five acres of chardonnay, riesling, pinot noir, cabernet franc, and syrah sit at 1,500 ft and overlook the Monterey Bay. Soils range from sandy to extremely rocky, and were weathered from sandstone. Redwood is the coldest site we work with and lends itself wines of intense spice. The vineyard is farmed by Richard Hanke (pictured here), along with consultation from Ken Swegles.
Lester Family Vineyard
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS AVA
Lester is also located in Corralitos, though much lower down at 500 ft in Pleasant Valley, about five miles from Monterey Bay. Sustainably farmed by Prudy Froxx (pictured here), the 14-acre vineyard is planted to chardonnay, pinot noir, and syrah. It is one of our coldest sites, usually ripening syrah around Halloween in a “normal” year. Lester’s cool climate and sandy loam soils lend themselves to extremely peppery, dark-fruited, and acid-driven syrah.
Nelson Vineyard
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS AVA
Nelson is located in the Summit subregion of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The site was planted to vines in 1999 after spending 30 years as a Christmas tree farm best known for silvertip firs, a variety that thrives at higher elevations. At 1700 ft, the vines growing in sandy loam and chunky sandstone are surrounded by redwoods and firs. With relatively warm days and cold nights, the wines from Nelson explode with fresh fruit, high acid, and elegant structure. The vineyard is farmed by Phil Nelson (pictured here).
Gali Vineyard
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS AVA
Gali is located in the Corralitos subregion of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains. At the low elevation of 400 ft and approximately six miles from the ocean, this is one of the coolest sites in our lineup. Soils are clay loam weathered from sandstone and shale, formed on ancient submarine terraces. Planted in 2014 and currently in conversion to organics, Gali produces wines with intense structure and peppery character. Gali is farmed by Joseph Gali (pictured here).
Coastview Vineyard
GABILAN MOUNTAINS AVA
Coastview is situated on a ridgetop at 2,300 ft in the Gabilan Mountains and is one of the most dramatically beautiful sites on the Central Coast. Here, thin soils of decomposed granite with veins of limestone are planted to a smattering of cool-climate Burgundian, Rhône, and Bordelais varietals. Planted in 1999 and organically farmed, it produces wines with crunchy freshness, bright fruit, and elegant structure. Coastview is farmed by Arturo Hernandez.
Pelio Vineyard
MONTEREY AVA
Pelio is located just west of Laureles Grade in Carmel Valley, in what will soon officially be the Carmel Coast AVA. At 1000 ft and seven miles from Monterey Bay, this site pushes the boundaries on cool-climate viticulture. Up to a few feet of clay loam topsoil, littered with diatomaceous shale, sit over shale bedrock- evidence that this area was under the sea until about 12 million years ago. Planted in 2003 and organically farmed, Pelio lends itself to wines exploding with fresh fruit, dusty herbs, and bright acidity. The vineyard is farmed by father-son team Greg and Chris Vita (pictured here).
Escolle Vineyard
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS AVA
Escolle is located in the northern section of the Santa Lucia Highlands, an 18 mile-long northeast facing bench in the windswept Salinas Valley. The mountainside appellation divides the Santa Lucia range to the west from the Salinas Valley floor to the east, and is primarily planted to chardonnay and pinot noir. Incredibly cool climate thanks to nearby Monterey Bay, the pairing of granitic loam and new graftings of gamay noir at Escolle is an SLH renaissance. This vineyard is also farmed by Greg and Chris Vita.
Fogstone Vineyard
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS AVA
Fogstone is located in the northern section of the Santa Lucia Highlands, an 18 mile-long northeast facing bench in the windswept Salinas Valley. The mountainside appellation divides the Santa Lucia range to the west from the Salinas Valley floor to the east. Its granitic loam and incredibly cool climate thanks to nearby Monterey Bay make it a great place to grow crisp, fruit-driven chardonnay and pinot noir. The vineyard is currently in conversion to organics, under the supervision of Bill Brosseau (pictured here).
Double L Vineyard
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS AVA
Planted in 1997, Double L is Morgan Winery’s estate vineyard and to this day is the only certified organic site in the SLH. The Santa Lucia Highlands is a mountainside appellation that divides the Santa Lucia range to the west from the Salinas Valley floor to the east. Located between 200 and 600 ft in the cool, northern section of the AVA, the vines at Double L are planted in sandy and clay granitic loams, and are blasted by afternoon wind and sun. Wines from Double L burst with rich fruit and spice, bright acidity, and silky texture. The vineyard is farmed by Dan Lee (pictured here).
Michaud Vineyard
CHALONE AVA
Michael Michaud (pictured here) planted his vineyard in 1995, after spending 19 years as head winemaker for Chalone Vineyard. Michaud sits at 1550 ft in the northwest corner of the appellation, located at the foot of Pinnacles National Park in the Gabilan Mountains, immediately east of the Salinas Valley. Chalone AVA is characterized by an arid, high desert climate, where hot days are followed by cold and generally clear nights. Decomposed granite soil is the norm here, though pockets of limestone are also found. Wines from Michaud lend themselves to elegant structure and distinctive earthiness.
Rodnick Farm
CHALONE AVA
Rodnick was first planted in 1986, in the Chalone appellation of the Gabilan Mountains, east of the Salinas Valley and in the shadow of Pinnacles National Monument. At 1600-1900 ft, decomposed granite and limestone soils in this high desert climate create a compelling terroir for growing earthy, structure-driven wines. Rodnick is organically farmed by Kurt Gollnick (pictured here).
Spear Vineyard
STA. RITA HILLS AVA
Spear is a young and very exciting site in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills. Planted in 2014 and farmed organically by Ofer Shepher, its northern border and steep north-facing slopes hug Highway 246. Varied elevation reaches 900 feet and soils are comprised of marine sedimentary clay and sand. Our chard block is primarily sedimentary clay with bits of chert, better known in France as silex. Spear lends itself to wines with tons of fresh fruit, florality, richness, and acidity. Spear is farmed by Ofer Shepher (pictured here) and Ben Merz.
