The Sauvignon Blanc (40%) and Pinot Gris (10%) from this blend originates at our Estate vineyard planted in 1996 alongside the historical Old Redwood Highway just south of Healdsburg. Here, warm days and cool nights combine with old riverbed clay soil to produce an ideal growing climate for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris. The Semillon (50%) was planted by the Hawkes Family in the Chalk Hill AVA. The warmer days of Chalk Hill lead to rich and honeyed flavors in the Semillon. Meticulous farming and minimal irrigation encourage both vineyards to express their full
flavor palate.

The Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris were harvested together and co-fermented, while the Semillon was harvested about three weeks later. The juices were cold-settled for 24 hours and then racked to a chilled tank. After a three week fermentation the wine was arrested from undergoing the secondary malolactic fermentation. The heavy lees were stirred in barrel every four weeks for 9 months. After 9 months of aging in barrel the two wines were blended in tank and barreled down into carefully selected French Oak barrels (35% new). Following a total of 17 months of barrel aging the wine was minimally fined and filtered before being bottled.