Spring Ridge Vineyard

Our historic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blocks

Spring Ridge Vineyard was established in 1981 on an east-facing ridge in the north Santa Cruz Mountains, and right in the heart of Portola Valley. The first plantings were Chardonnay and Gewürtztraminer in 1981, though the latter was uprooted and Pinot Noir was planted in 1997. In total, 12.1 acres (approximately 6,100 vines) have been planted at Spring Ridge Vineyard.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thrive in this unique geographic convergence, where the coastal wind and fog collide with the stabilizing warmth of the San Francisco Bay. Cool, and occasionally foggy mornings bleed into warm and sunny afternoons. The hilly ridge, dotted with ancient California Live Oak, creates a plethora of microclimates, which contributes to the unique terroir of this special site. Soils are mostly comprised of clay loam, ideal for water retention and temperature stability in the summer months. Subsoils are composed of ancient seabed and lie nearer to the surface at certain sites within the vineyard. A natural spring at the top of the property offers plenty of water for the vineyard blocks on the rare occasion when extended heat affects the area.

CHARDONNAY

Chardonnay was planted 40-42 years ago along an east-facing slope between 600 and 840 ft elevation. The vineyards lie over porous 1-3 million year old sedimentary rock at variable depth, at a site geographically midway between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. The site reliably provides ample acidity to make age-worthy chardonnay.

HOME BLOCK

Home is a 1.4 acre east-facing slope at 840 to 805 ft. elevation, located just below the main residence built in 1912. The vines are were planted in 1981, clone 4 and own-rooted.

AMPHITHEATER BLOCK

Ampitheater is a 2 acre L-shaped south- and east- facing slope at 780 to 735 ft. elevation, Wente clone. Planted in 1981. It derives its name from the topigraphical shape of the block.

BEE BLOCK

Bee is the largest block at 3 acres, facing slightly north of east at 735 to 670 ft. elevation, with sedimentary rock farthest from the surface. Massal selection from Home Block (clone 4) was grafted on 5c rootstock in 1982.

PINOT NOIR

Pinot Noir blocks were planted in three stages between 1997 and 2006, generally lower in elevation than the Chardonnay blocks. The vineyards lie over porous 1-3 million-year-old sedimentary rock at variable depth, at a site geographically midway between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay.

HIDDEN BLOCK

Hidden was the first Pinot Noir block planted, in 1997, on 2 acres at a location separate from the main vineyard ridge—thus the name. It is the only north-facing vineyard block on the property, and at 730 to 690 ft. is approximately the same elevation as the Chardonnay Bee Block, but with a different orientation. Dijon 115 clone was grafted in the field onto 5C rootstock.

UPPER PICNIC BLOCK

Upper Picnic comprises the 2 acres immediately above Picnic Block on the east-facing slope at 660 to 645 ft. elevation. In 2006, Dijon 777 clone was used (as in Picnic Block), but was grafted onto the established rootstock from the original Gewurztraminer planting in 1982.

PICNIC BLOCK

Picnic encompasses the 1.4 acres planted in 2000 on the lowest east-facing slope, at 645 to 600 ft. elevation, replacing the original Gewurztraminer planting. Dijon 777 clone on 5C rootstock.