Sausal Creek Vineyard

Our newest plantings on the estate, including Grüner Veltliner, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon &

Cabernet Franc.

Sausal Creek Vineyard was established in 2017, in the meadow adjacent to the Tasting Barn. The vineyard is 3.8 acres, slightly northwest-facing, and gently sloping (520-540 feet in elevation). To the south lies the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, and to the north, its namesake Sausal Creek. This site was historically a flood basin for Sausal Creek but was drained in the early 20th century and has been used for agricultural purposes since. The San Andreas Fault runs along the northwest perimeter of Sausal Creek Vineyard and has added to the unique topography and soils of this vineyard site. 

Plum Block (now Leoncita) was the first planting at Sausal Creek Vineyard and is our newest Chardonnay block at Neely Wine. 2019 saw the planting of Grüner Veltliner in the northeast corner of the vineyard, one of only a handful of Grüner plantings in California. The rootstock in the northwest corner of the vineyard was grafted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in the Spring of 2021.

CHARDONNAY

LEONCITA BLOCK

Established in 2017, Leoncita Block (formerly Plum Block) is our newest Chardonnay planting at Neely Wine. At two acres Leoncita is the largest block at Sausal Creek Vineyard. This block spans from 520-530 feet in elevation. The rows face northwest and vines are trained in the Vertical Shoot Positioned (VSP) trellising style, best suited for these young and vigorous plants. The rootstock is 101-14 and the clone is 72 (Wente), also known as the ‘old Wente’ clone. Our first vintage of Plum Block was produced in 2019. We have focused on producing this block in a stainless steel fermented and aged style to help us understand the aroma and flavor characteristics of the block. We experimented with neutral oak on a small lot of Leoncita in 2021 to see how this young fruit held up to oak. In 2023 we experimented with several different winemaking styles with the fruit from this block including sparkling and carbonic maceration. We look forward to further winemaking adventures with this dynamic vineyard block.

GRÜNER VELTLINER

BLOCK VERDE

Block Verde was planted at Sausal Creek Vineyard in 2019 and saw its first vintage in 2021. This vineyard block is 0.9 acres in size and rows face northwest. It rises from 520 to 530 feet in elevation. This block, like Leoncita Block, is trained in the Vertical Shoot Positioned trellising system. One of only a few plantings in California, our Grüner Veltliner adds an exciting varietal to the Neely Wine lineup. Grüner Veltliner hails from Austria and is an aromatic white varietal, with typical flavors of lychee, ginger, white pepper, and stone fruit. It has crisp acidity and is most often vinified to dry. Clusters of Grüner Veltliner are much larger compared to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and turn a beautiful golden color when ripe.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON & CABERNET FRANC

CABERNET SAUVIGNON & FRANC
(currently unnamed)

After several years of debate as to what should be planted in the remaining 0.9 acre block of Sausal Creek Vineyard, our proprietor, Kirk Neely, committed to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Cabernet vines were grafted to the existing 101-14 rootstock in the early spring of 2022. Cabernet Franc bud wood was grafted to 60% of the block, while Cabernet Sauvignon bud wood was grafted to the other 40% of the rootstock. 2023 saw the first crop come in on these young vines, but the decision was made to not harvest the fruit to allow for further physiological development. This block rises from 520 to 530 feet and rows face slightly northwest, like the other blocks at Sausal Creek Vineyard.