Adams Ranch Vineyard

The Ledge Estate

The Lake Block

Originally a gravel pit used to grade the roads on the property, the lake block was also once the family pond, hence the name. Comprised largely of stoney gravel, this block neighbors the Bunkhouse Block and contains even more of those rounded river rocks and dense, rocky orange, brown and red clay loam. We filed in the pond and planted this site in 2010 to Clone 814 (Spanish Garnacha) and Roussanne at 8’x10’ spacing, head trained. Much of the perimeter of this block remains shallow bedrock and imparts a rich minerality to the wine.

The Fin

Just south of the lake block is what we call The Fin, due to its resemblance to a dolphin or shark fin. Comprised of 814 Spanish Garnacha and Alban Clone Grenache, this section of the vineyard is home to rich brown and auburn colored clay loam with scattered stones and amazing water retention capabilities - so much so that it has been dry farmed for most of it’s existence. The path of water during rainstorms leads directly through the Fin and it remains our most prolific fruit bearing block. This block is planted at 10’x10’ and is head trained.

The Orchard Block

Once scattered with various fruit trees, the Orchard Block is planted entirely to clone 814 Spanish Garnacha and contains a combination of sandy clay loam and a dense sandstone shelf loaded with clam shell fossils. The types of clay are marbled with sand from white beach sand to grey gritty grist to adobe brown modeling clay. Planted at 10’x6’ and head trained.

Meter by Meter

As the name suggests, these vines are planted three feet by three feet apart in insanely dense clay and clamshell laden sandstone at the edge of the “Ledge” which overlooks the Willow Creek District sub AVA. The foliage is so dense in this block that in certain weather conditions it creates it’s own micro climate. The berries tend to be smaller and clusters more compact, giving the fruit a uniquely deep concentration and expression.

Lower Ledge Block

In the winter of 2004 Mark collected Estrella clone cuttings from the Bone Rock terraces at Saxum’s James Berry Vineyard and planted them as sticks (own rooted) on the Adams Ranch. These were the first vines plated at the estate vineyard at a spacing of 8’ by 3’. The soil at the top of these rows start in a silty, sandy clay loam (we’ve found shark’s teeth in this block) and makes its way toward the meter by meter block which is deep, cracked earthen clay with a dark chocolate hue.

Bunkhouse

Mark’s mom, aka “Miema” lives on the northernmost part of the property and her home is affectionately known as the “Bunkhouse”, where the grandchildren are always encouraged to sleep when they visit. The Bunkhouse block is in terra rosa soil (clay with iron heavy hues of red) and is marbled with ancient river rounded rocks and pebbles. When the rains come, a mini-stream of water flows from the edge of the bunkhouse block and through a subtle gulley that meanders through and off of the Ledge to Sheep Camp Creek below, which runs alongside Vineyard Drive.