Vineyards
ESTATE VINEYARD
The Fort Ross-Seaview AVA is characterized by minimum elevations of 920 feet, (keeping us just above the fog line), and distances near to the ocean, keeping temperatures lower than average.
Planted in 1997, our Estate Vineyard is organically dry-farmed and sits at 1000-1400 ft. Just 2.5 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, our 92-acre ranch has 11 acres under vine. We picked our first fruit from this vineyard in 1999 and have steadily increased production in the years since.
HAYNES VINEYARD
In 1966, Pat and Duncan Haynes planted their vineyard in the Coombsville AVA. The site has been continuously farmed since then on its original rootstock - making it one of Napa Valley's oldest Chardonnay Vineyards farmed this way. Failla has been producing Chardonnay from this amazing site since 2011. The Chardonnay we source is Old Wente Clone on St. George rootstock, on a bed of volcanic alluvial soils.
HIRSCH VINEYARD
David Hirsch founded this stellar vineyard in 1980. Sitting at 1500ft high in elevation, the Pacific Ocean is visible just three miles to the southwest. The vineyard sits adjacent to the San Andreas Fault, which results in myriad soil types, exposures, and hosts more than 60 distinct blocks over 72 planted acres. Failla is proud to have worked with David and Jasmine Hirsch since 2001.
HUDSON VINEYARD
Ehren and grape grower Lee Hudson go way back - all the way back to Ehren's days at Neyers where he made Chardonnay, Syrah, and Grenache from this esteemed southwestern Napa Valley Site. The vineyard sits on a 2000 acre ranch that Lee purchased in 1979 and slowly developed into one of Napa Valley's most recognizable vineyard names. This close association has allowed Failla to enjoy vineyard-designate status from Hudson since 2010 with inaugural releases of both Chardonnay and Syrah.
KEEFER RANCH
Keefer Ranch Vineyard was planted in 1988 by Marcy Keefer and her husband Robert. Eleven years later, a handshake deal with Failla cemented our first vineyard-designate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and forever entwined our histories. The site lies in the southwestern-most part of the Green Valley of Russian River Valley, an area noted for its intense morning fog and sandy Goldridge soils. This combination makes Keefer Ranch a site that provides balanced water, nutrition, and sunlight - all important factors in delivering high-quality fruit.
OCCIDENTAL RIDGE
This Sonoma Coast site was planted in 1999 by Richard and Darla Radcliffe. After 20 years in the restaurant industry as a chef in San Francisco, Richard sought to tackle a new challenge in the world of grape farming. Darla Radcliffe is committed to the principles of horticulture, permaculture, beekeeping, and vineyard work.
OLIVET RANCH
In 2011, Ehren purchased an established vineyard on Olivet Road in Santa Rosa, next to the revered Olivet Lane Vineyard, which is home to some of the first Pinot Noir in the Russian River AVA. For Ehren, acquiring an adjacent property planted with the same varietals as this heritage site was an amazing opportunity. The result is Olivet Ranch, a 14-acre site situated on the Santa Rosa Plain in the heart of the Russian River Valley AVA. We immediately converted the vineyard to organic farming, and are now seeing the fruits of our labor.
PEARLESSENCE VINEYARD
Greg and Linda Pearl’s dreams of owning a vineyard became a reality in 1991 when they purchased a beautiful five-acre parcel of land in the Sonoma Coast Appellation. Greg and Linda spend a lot of time working in the vineyard, keeping up their traditions of family farming and harmony with the land.
PEAY VINEYARD
Nestled on top of a foggy ridge line amid the ever-winding roads near Annapolis, Peay's vineyard fits the definition of 'extreme farming.' The vineyard's sandstone soils contribute to naturally low fertility and the potential for grapes of truly superior expression. Peay sells grapes to us from two blocks of their 51-acre property from which we craft vineyard-designate wine, making Failla one of only two wineries to receive their cold climate fruit. Their vineyard, located 4 miles east of the Pacific Ocean in the northwestern corner of Sonoma County, was first planted in 1998. Failla began contracting with Peay Vineyards in 2006, and since then it has become a mainstay in the lineup, producing superior wines with intense structure, aromatics, and texture.
PLATT VINEYARD
Planted in 2003/2004 to a melange of Pinot Noir clones, Platt Vineyard is located in the western hills of Sebastopol. The vineyard covers 31 acres ranging from 425-800 feet of elevation, five miles from the Pacific coastline. The climate is relatively mild, with cool marine weather passing through the region on its way to the Sacramento Delta. Fine, Goldridge sandy loams dominate the soil structure of the site's southwestern-facing slope.
REULING VINEYARD
We source heirloom Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties from this amazing site with tremendously well-drained, blond soil. It is located in a unique spot - at the spine that divides the Laguna de Santa Rosa from the Green Valley on the west side. Tim and Jackie live onsite and take great care of this stellar vineyard.
SAVOY VINEYARD
Savoy Vineyard was planted by original owner Rich Savoy between 1991 and 1994. Some areas have been replanted or grafted over since the original planting, and some Chardonnay acreage was grafted over to Pinot Noir so that the vineyard is now roughly 2/3 Pinot and 1/3 Chardonnay. Like any vineyard of size, there are differences in the terroir in various portions of the site. The knolls are generally composed of sandy loams weathered from sandstone. They have moderate moisture holding capacity and moderate to very low vigor. The alluvial terraces are more darkly colored loams underlain with clay loams. The higher clay content of these terraces means that they have higher moisture holding capacity and moderate vigor and some of the areas within the terraces may soon be dry farmed.