Born of necessity and heritage, this year’s release comes as a true field blend. Originally destined to be bottled as a rare Palomino, lower yields from those historic vines led us to unite the ancient vine Carignan, Mourvèdre, Alicante Bouschet, and Palomino with a portion of Grenache planted in 2005. Together they create a layered snapshot of Sandy Lane Vineyard’s living history.
All but the Grenache trace back to 1888: own-rooted, head-trained, dry-farmed vines thriving in forty-foot-deep granitic sands just east of the San Francisco Bay. This vintage also includes the last pressings from harvest — the final, juice-rich fractions of the crush — making these buckets extra generous, with notably high yields for winemakers.
Palomino, though a white grape, adds an essential dimension to the blend. Its naturally high acidity brings brightness and lift, while subtle notes of citrus, almond, and hay weave in sweetness and aromatic complexity. This “acid bomb” quality harks back to how wines were traditionally made when the vineyard was first planted in the late 1800s — blending Palomino with red varieties to create field wines of freshness, balance, and longevity. In many ways, this field blend carries forward the vineyard’s original intent.
The resulting wine will echo the character of Southern Rhône blends, with a kinship to rustic Mediterranean reds of Italy: dark fruit wrapped in savory earth, spice, and supple texture. Expect robust aromatics, juicy depth, and a structure that balances power with approachability — sharpened and lifted by Palomino’s zesty acidity.
Quantities are extremely limited, but the story is expansive — a blend of 19th-century vines and modern additions, carrying forward the heritage of Contra Costa’s ancient vineyards.
This vineyard shares a fence line with Evangelho, now farmed by Bedrock Wine Co., and has been used by Ridge Vineyards and other top producers. These are true California heritage vines—enduring, expressive, and deeply rooted in the history of West Coast winemaking.
Born of necessity and heritage, this year’s release comes as a true field blend. Originally destined to be bottled as a rare Palomino, lower yields from those historic vines led us to unite the ancient vine Carignan, Mourvèdre, Alicante Bouschet, and Palomino with a portion of Grenache planted in 2005. Together they create a layered snapshot of Sandy Lane Vineyard’s living history.
All but the Grenache trace back to 1888: own-rooted, head-trained, dry-farmed vines thriving in forty-foot-deep granitic sands just east of the San Francisco Bay. This vintage also includes the last pressings from harvest — the final, juice-rich fractions of the crush — making these buckets extra generous, with notably high yields for winemakers.
Palomino, though a white grape, adds an essential dimension to the blend. Its naturally high acidity brings brightness and lift, while subtle notes of citrus, almond, and hay weave in sweetness and aromatic complexity. This “acid bomb” quality harks back to how wines were traditionally made when the vineyard was first planted in the late 1800s — blending Palomino with red varieties to create field wines of freshness, balance, and longevity. In many ways, this field blend carries forward the vineyard’s original intent.
The resulting wine will echo the character of Southern Rhône blends, with a kinship to rustic Mediterranean reds of Italy: dark fruit wrapped in savory earth, spice, and supple texture. Expect robust aromatics, juicy depth, and a structure that balances power with approachability — sharpened and lifted by Palomino’s zesty acidity.
Quantities are extremely limited, but the story is expansive — a blend of 19th-century vines and modern additions, carrying forward the heritage of Contra Costa’s ancient vineyards.
This vineyard shares a fence line with Evangelho, now farmed by Bedrock Wine Co., and has been used by Ridge Vineyards and other top producers. These are true California heritage vines—enduring, expressive, and deeply rooted in the history of West Coast winemaking.
