For decades Marietta produced wine by purchasing high quality fruit from local friends and farmers. Some of these meaningful relationships led to us acquiring some of those very vineyards we had been working with for years. In the case of Geyserville, our father worked the land and gained the trust of Viola Angeli before she offered to sell it to him. Our McDowell Vineyard relationship would never have happened if not for a freshly harvested abalone. We’ve always relied on friendships, community and personal connections. The results are in every bottle of Marietta wine.
Geyserville
– Purchased in 1990 from Viola Angeli whose family had settled there in 1886
– 35 acres of river land and hillside terraced vineyards
– Zinfandel, Cabernet, Petite Sirah, Syrah
– Viola’s house is now our main office
– Soil is characterized by deep gravel swales in the valley and rocky hills
– Foggy morning along the Russian River burn off to hot afternoons followed by chilly nights
– Angeli Zinfandel is 100% from this vineyard
McDowell
– 270 acres of vineyard purchased in 2012
– The vineyard comprises 80% of the plantable acreage in this unique appellation
– McDowell is renowned for Rhone varietals; the Gibson Block has some of the oldest Syrah and Grenache Gris in California
– Several feet of deep, rich, consistent soil above a thin clay layer
– Our Gibson Block Syrah comes from the small historic block by the original homestead
– The surrounding mountains create a deep, round valley that acts as a cold sink that ensures night cooling
Yorkville
– 10 acres of Clone 6 Cabernet Sauvignon under long-term lease
– Planted by Chris at 1400 ft. elevation, perched on a south-facing hillside
– Coastal influence lends a prevailing afternoon wind on hot days and extremely cold nights
– The vineyard is surrounded by rugged land overrun with deer, wild pigs, wild mushrooms, and oak trees
– This late—bordering on fringe—growing region produces dark, concentrated, intense wines with retained acidity and relatively low alcohols
– Full sun, limited water and high shale and rock content lead to reduced yields
– Game Trail Cabernet is 100% from this vineyard