Artesa Vineyards & Winery - Vineyard Quality Enhancement (Press Kit)

Artesa Press Kit - Vineyard Qaulity Enhancement

Estate Vineyards
Our Estate vineyards comprise 150 total acres, including 81 acres of Chardonnay, 64 acres of Pinot Noir and five acres of other varieties. Planted on 5C, 5BB and 110R rootstocks primarily in Haire clay loam soils on the 352-acre estate.

Clonal Diversity
Our clonal diversity was achieved by T-budding over half of our estate vineyards (20 acres per year since 1996) to clones and selections of Chardonnay (UC4, Old Wente, Artesa, Dijon 76, 95, 96, 277 and 548, Hyde, Mt. Eden, Robert Young) and Pinot Noir (Martini 13, Swan, Dijon 114, 115, 667 and 777, Pommard, Beba, Roederer 31 and 32).

Cultural Practices

Converted from cordon to cane pruning -- more labor intensive but offers more precision, produces higher quality fruit.

Non-tillage farming to increase cover crops, control vine vigor, manage stress, decrease erosion, provide beneficial insect habitat.

Lowered vine head height, added stakes and wires to improve vertical trellis, improved light exposure for fruit and vines.

Planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Dijon clones in meter-by-meter spacing to double plant density.

Leafing practices range from moderate to extreme to develop a variety of flavor characteristics. Extensive canopy management to ensure quality.

Thinning to 10 pounds per vine maximum yields in Pinot Noir and 12 pounds in Chardonnay for balanced vine and highest quality.

Vineyard Development
Developed 100-acre vineyard on 409-acre Alexander Valley ranch primarily for Bordeaux varieties and Tempranillo. Also, planted 100 acres on 300-acre Sonoma Coast property (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay) and plan to plant our 80 acres in Foss Valley (eastern Napa Valley near Atlas Peak ) to Bordeaux varieties.