Flowers Ranch: Frances Thompson Vineyard & Sea View Ridge Vineyard
Flowers Ranch
Flowers Ranch could be considered the younger sibling of Camp Meeting Ridge. Walt and Joan purchased the site in 1997 from a neighbor. Like Camp Meeting Ridge, Flowers Ranch is comprised of a lot of acreage with only a small amount planted to vine. The 327 acre property was developed in two phases corresponding to the soil type, aspect and microclimate.
Elevations range from 1400 to 1875 feet, well above the summer fog which cools the site from below. Like Camp Meeting Ridge, Flowers Ranch is an ideal site in a cool climate. Views from the ridgetop vineyards are unobstructed, offering a 360 degree panorama of the surrounding mountains, valleys and coastline. Point Reyes to the south, Mount Saint Helena to the east, Odiyan to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west are all visible from Flowers Ranch. With its expansive vistas and carpet of valley fog below, the site offers fruit of incomparable quality and visual drama as well.
Frances Thompson Vineyard
Planted in 1998 and 1999, the 25 acre Frances Thompson Vineyard surrounds the old Thompson family homestead. It consists of deep, well-drained, red rocky soils formed from sedimentary rock of sandstone, schist, shale and conglomerate. Vines grow easily, migrating through the fractured ground to obtain the water and nutrients they need. The Frances Thompson Vineyard is slightly cooler then the Sea View Ridge Vineyard because of its proximity to the Pacific, although still less than 2 miles away.
Sea View Ridge Vineyard
The 22 acre Sea View Ridge Vineyard takes its name from the historical local ridge and the breath-taking view offered of the dramatic Pacific Ocean. Pinot Noir vines were planted in 2000 - 2003. Soils consist of gravelly loam at the surface with a subsoil of sandy, clay loam born of ancient metamorphic rock. Millions of years of exposure have left the muted soil harder and more resistant to the elements. This makes the vines work harder to obtain water and nutrients, resulting in low yields of fruit with intense, concentrated flavors.
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