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Westside Farms
Westside Farms Vineyard is certainly not a new vineyard for our winemaker Gary Farrell. In fact, he produced designated wines from this vineyard under his namesake brand for nearly 20 years. Gary considers the Chardonnay from Westside Farms to be “of benchmark quality and status”; with a fruit profile so pure and regionally correct, it sets the standard for what (in his opinion) other Russian River Valley Chardonnays should strive to be. Thanks to his longstanding relationship with the vineyard’s owners (Ron and Pam Kaiser) and their very capable vineyard management team headed by Kevin Barr, Gary was able to negotiate for the purchase of a few tons of grapes from the highly acclaimed (and highly allocated) Block 3. This 20+ year old block was planted by Kevin Barr to Clone 4 on AXR rootstock, and continues to dazzle winemakers with its generosity of fruit and extraordinarily high levels of mouthwatering natural acidity.
HALLBERG
| Owner: | Partnership (Brice Jones – majority interest) |
| Location: | Russian River Valley (5 miles north of Sebastopol) |
| Date Planted: | 2001 – 2002 |
| Acres Planted: | 110 acres |
| Varietals/Clones: | Pinot Noir (110 acres) Dijon Clones 115, 667, 777, 828, Pommard Clone and Cruz Clone |
| Root Stock: | 101-14 |
| Planting Density: | 2 meters between rows; 1 meter between plants |
Upon selling Sonoma Cutrer Winery in 1998, the original investors and management team used a portion of the proceeds to purchase the Hallberg Ranch in 1999. The Gravenstein apple orchard was removed by partner and vineyard manager Kirk Lokka during 2000, with the Pinot Noir vineyard development commencing the following year. From the beginning, this was a "quality at any cost" endeavor, and the recipients of fruit from this vineyard comprise the "who's who" list of top Russian River Valley Pinot Noir producers. Kirk Lokka simply grows some of the finest, most highly sought-after (and expensive) Pinot Noir obtainable from the region. Wines from this property are typically highly concentrated and rich; but offer exceptional balance due to the cool, breezy Sebastopol climate. Alysian's focus has been with Hallberg Vineyard's Dijon Clones 777, 828 and Cruz Clone blocks.
CRESTA RIDGE
| Owner: | Baker Family (owned by Gary Farrell until November 2008) |
| Location: | Green Valley (sub appellation of Russian River Valley) near Forestville. |
| Date Planted: | 1999 |
| Acres Planted: | 14 acres |
| Varietals/Clones: | Chardonnay (4 acres) Dijon Clones 76 & 95 Pinot Noir (10 acres) Dijon Clones 115 & 777 |
| Root Stock: | 101-14 |
| Planting Density: | 7' between rows; 5' between vines |
Gary and Debbie Farrell acquired this property in 1998 and developed the vineyard the following year. It was selected for its prime, Goldridge series soils and incomparable cool, breezy Russian River Valley/Green Valley location. Though Gary sold this vineyard in late 2008, the new owners agreed to (continue to) provide fruit to Alysian Wines from Gary's favorite Chardonnay block; known as "Taurin Block".
FLOODGATE
| Owner: | Bill and Sally Hambrecht |
| Location: | Russian River Valley (“Middle Reach” area) near Forestville |
| Date Planted: | 1974 – 2009 (multiple blocks) |
| Acres Planted: | 82 (+/-) |
| Varietals/Clones: | Chardonnay (20 acres) Dijon Clones 76, 95 and Wente Clone Pinot Noir (55 acres) Dijon Clones 115, 667, 777, 828 and Pommard Clone Sauvignon Blanc (2 acres) |
| Root Stock: | AXR (old vines), 33-09 and 101-14 |
| Planting Density: | Recently planted Pinot Noir: 8’ between rows, 4’ between vines Recently planted Chardonnay: 8’ between rows, 5’ between vines Old blocks (Pinot Noir): 12’ between rows, 8’ between vines |
Bill and Sally Hambrecht purchased this property in 1999, and (with the help of viticulturist Warren Burton) immediately began an extensive redevelopment of the vineyard. In 2006, Bill Hambrecht partnered with Gary Farrell and Denise Sanders to launch the new Alysian brand. Though Floodgate Vineyard was never intended to be the exclusive supplier for the Alysian project, Gary (obviously) has the "pick of the vineyard" and currently produces designated Pinot Noir wines from two Floodgate Vineyard blocks; the West Block (Martini Clone planted in 1974) and Rock Hill (Clone 777 planted in 2000). Beginning in 2009, Gary will also produce Chardonnay (clones 76 and 95) from this vineyard. We are also very pleased to announce that this stunning property (overlooking Mark West Creek and surrounding vineyards) will be the future home of the incredible Alysian Winery … now in the "design phase".
ALLEN
| Owner: | Howard and Ann Allen |
| Location: | Russian River Valley (6 miles south of Healdsburg on west bank of Russian River adjacent to Rochioli Vineyard. |
| Date Planted: | 1970 – 2009 |
| Acres Planted: | 20 acres |
| Varietals/Clones: | Chardonnay (15 acres) Clone 15 and Dijon Clone 76 Pinot Noir (5 acres) Pommard and Dijon Clones |
| Root Stock: | AXR (old blocks), 101-14 and 039-16 |
| Planting Density: | Recently planted blocks: 8' between rows; 5' between vines Old blocks (Pinot Noir): 12' between rows, 8' between vines |
The Allen family's first vineyard was in Napa Valley's Oakville district, but in the late 1960's they purchased a property contiguous to the Rochioli Vineyard along Westside Road in the Russian River Valley. Howie Allen immediately befriended Joe Rochioli, and shared his vision regarding the region's untapped potential for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In 1970, Howie enlisted Joe to plant (and farm) his vineyard, so he could continue his real estate business in San Francisco. This relationship still exists some 40 years later … with Joe continuing to farm the Allen Vineyard. Gary Farrell first purchased grapes from Howie in 1982 for his "namesake" brand, and now (thanks to this long-term relationship with the Allen Vineyard) is able to purchase Pinot Noir grapes from the Allen South Hill block for the Alysian brand.
ROCHIOLI
| Owner: | Joe Rochioli (and family) |
| Location: | Russian River Valley (6 miles south of Healdsburg on the west bank of the Russian River) |
| Date Planted: | 1959 – 2009 |
| Acres Planted: | 120 acres (+/-) |
| Varietals/Clones: | Pinot Noir (approx. 60 acres) West Block Selection, Pommard, Swan and Dijon Clones 115 & 777 Chardonnay (approximately 30 acres) Wente, Hanzell, Mt. Eden, Clone 5 and Dijon Clones 76 & 95 Sauvignon Blanc (15 acres) Old Vine Selection (planted 1959) and Clone 376 |
| Root Stock: | 101-14 |
| Planting Density: | 7' between rows; 5' between vines |
For over a century, the Rochioli family has owned and farmed this ranch … a property which is now considered by most to be the most coveted and highly acclaimed Pinot Noir vineyards in America. From humble beginnings of raising grapes in the late 1800’s, to prunes, hops, beans and (then again) grapes in the 1950’s, Joe Rochioli deserves a great deal of credit for planting Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc in the 1950’s and 1960’s, during an era when there was little demand for “high-quality” varietal wine grapes. Obviously, the rest is history. Joe is a true pioneer, and has been so instrumental in elevating the status of the Sonoma County wine industry. His grapes contributed greatly to the success of such early Pinot Noir brands as Williams Selyem, Gary Farrell, Davis Bynum and (of course) Rochioli wines. Thanks to our winemaker Gary Farrell, we are proud to be among the “chosen few” to receive Pinot Noir grapes from the Rochioli Vineyard. Clones received include West Block Selection, Dijon Clone 115 and Dijon Clone 777.