“Vineyard is not summed up by where things land on a map, but what is inside each vineyard. Soils and micro-climates are essential to how we define terroir. Great sites combine soil composition and structure, ocean influence and exposures all to create the gestalt that we try to capture in the personality of each wine. Our goal is to produce delicious wines that embrace this holistic approach.”
-Mike Callahan
Vineyards
Lafond Vineyard
STA Rita hills
One of the first vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills, Lafond was originally planted in 1971. Along with the rest of Santa Rita Hills, it is well known for Pinot Noir & Chardonnay (after a certain film brought fame to Pinot noir and the appellation). However popular the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, David Lafond continues to farm over 10 acres of Riesling on some of the Central Coast’s most valuable vineyard land. Lafond is Maidenstoen’s coldest site and the vines here struggle with inclement weather and coastal influence. I’ve worked with the Lafond Vineyard since 2014, always producing wines that have tension and great natural acidity.
Zabala Vineyard
Arroyo Seco
In cobblestone river rock at the south end of Monterey County, Zabala Vineyard has been growing Riesling since 2007. The topography lends itself to extreme winds drawing from the Monterey bay and as the Salinas Valley narrows the winds funnel through. Characterized by these aggressive winds and well drained soils, Zabala embraces unique growing conditions for producing wines with great intensity and longevity.
Oliver’s Vineyard
Edna Valley
Situated 5.2 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Oliver’s Vineyard is owned and farmed by Talley Vineyards. The topography of rolling hills composed of tierra sandy loam and shaly loam soils, with its maritime influence, is consistent throughout the Edna Valley. The Riesling here is coveted by quality-focused producers across the Central Coast. The vineyard is committed to sustainable farming practices (SIP Certified), eliminating the use of herbicides as they continue to push for a more holistic and organic approach to farming. The vineyard’s dynamic clay soil types consistently make for rich and generous wines.
Wirz Vineyard
CIENAGA VALLEY
The Wirz Vineyard is located just east of the Gabilan Mountain range near the Coast View Vineyard. Established in 1964, the Wirz vineyard was furrow irrigated until adequately established and dry-farmed ever since. Pat Wirz describes how wide spaced, head-trained vines allow cross cultivation (tilling rows in a grid pattern as opposed to parallel lines) which creates natural, undervine composting. This process dually benefits moisture retention in the soil as well as increases soil microbe diversity. The Wirz vineyard has been listed as an “historic” vineyard and is one of the truly great Riesling vineyards on the Central Coast.
Coast View
chular canyon