Planted in 2010 and 2015 after years of study and collaboration with renowned French consultant Claude Gros, our vineyard land was chosen specifically for Rhône varieties like Syrah and Grenache. Of the 16 acres at our Rotie Rocks Estate, eight are planted to two Syrah clones: 470 and Tablas. Clone 470 grows with a longer rachis, allowing more airflow between berries—leading to earlier ripening and a wildly expressive nose. Tablas is its antithesis: tight, small, almost square clusters that retain more acid, crucial for balance in the higher pH wines typical of The Rocks.
We pioneered the low goblet, head-trained system on our property to keep fruit close to the ground, where the vines are better protected from frost by warmth radiating off the rocks at night. Each winter, we bury the vines to shield them from the cold—a labor-intensive practice that ensures we never lose a crop and underscores the care behind our wines.
Owning and farming five vineyards totaling 36 acres in The Rocks AVA places us among the region’s rare estate-driven producers. Our Rotie Rocks Estate fruit is never sold to other wineries—every cluster grown is destined for our own cellar, crafted with care, and shared with our customers.
