Mr Kevin Romick posted these photos to his Facebook page on Saturday, September 10, 2022. Images are from Oakley, CA.
August 17, 2022: Joel Peterson of Once & Future Wine Co. captured the following photo of the Oakley harvest.
This 2022 Vimeo video from Hardy & Kate Wallace’s Extradimensional Wine Co. YEAH! highlights a visit to the “Evangelho Vineyard” in northeast Antioch, CA.
“Evangelho: Winds, Acids, & Sand”
Extradimensional Wine Co. YEAH! bottles a limited single-vineyard Mourvèdre from the “Evangelho Vineyard”.
The winery’s upcoming release includes the 2021 “Nightlight Red” blend, composed of 68% old-growth Contra Costa Mourvèdre from the “Del Barba Vineyard” along with ancient-vine Mendocino County Carignan, and a small percentage of Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel.
Extradimensional Wine Co. YEAH! website:
Vimeo page: Extradimensional Wine CO. Yeah!
Sandlands Vineyards has begun its Spring 2023 release of wines. Included among the bottlings are the Contra Costa County Mataro and Carignane, both from the same century-old planting in Oakley, CA.
From the winery website:
Photographer David Bayless’ website includes a collection of vineyard scenes - some from eastern Contra Costa County.
A Sense of Place: David Bayless Photography
“Vineyards”
“Salvador Vineyard” : 2371 Oakley Rd, Oakley (Uprooted; developed into The Vines at Oakley housing subdivision)
Morgan Twain-Peterson’s Instagram post (via Picuki)
About 3 weeks ago
According to an Instagram post from January, 2023, Mr Tegan Passalacqua is now leasing the esteemed “Oakley Road Vineyard” (aka “Bigelow Vyd”) in Contra Costa.
Tegan Passalacqua Instagram post (via Picuki):
One month ago
https://www.picuki.com/media/3004797095982236338
“After 13 years of working with this beauty of a vineyard (planted on its own roots in 1922) that was the impetus for #sandlands I have leased the vineyard and will start to farm it while continuing to work with the fruit and @raven1947zsxs. #icecoldrossiinmyquikstopcup #redtablewine #mataro #carignane #zinfandel #cococo”
The Contra Costa County government webpage, and elsewhere on the internet, have provided a somewhat muddled account of who previously tended the old-growth Zinfandel, Mourvèdre, Carignan, etc, vines located at the corner of Neroly Rd and Oakley Rd in Oakley.
To my understanding, the Gonsalves and Del Barba families each have farmed the “Oakley Road Vyd” in the past.
The eastern block of the “Oakley Road Vyd” is slated to be the future location of the Rahma Community Center.
Both Passalacqua’s Sandlands Vineyards and Joel Peterson’s Once & Future Wine Co have bottled vineyard-designated red wines from the “Oakley Road Vyd”. Matt & Erin Cline’s Three Wine Company has produced red wine from this location under the “Bigelow Vyd” moniker.
The “Spring 2023 Bedrock Release” has begun. Among the latest offering is the winery’s limited-production bottling from the “Evangelho Vineyard” in Antioch.
“Aerio e Vento e Amor” (“Wind and Sand and Love” in Portuguese) is a special tribute to the memory of Frank Evangelho, who passed away in 2018.
“2021 ‘Evangelho’ ‘Aerio e Vento e Amor’, Contra Costa County”
"The always microscopic production from Frank Evangelho’s favorite block was even more so in 2021, but the results are fantastic.
“A small, west-facing site, the vines are a field-blend of Mourvèdre/Mataro, Zinfandel, Carignan, and a small amount of Palomino, which were picked together and cofermented into a 2-ton open-top Stockinger tank. This sees a higher percentage of whole-cluster than the ‘Evangelho Heritage Wine’ (along with being higher percentage Mourvèdre), and the result is a wilder, more ruggedly beautiful expression of the grande senhora of the counter-coast (Contra Costa is Counter Coast in Portuguese).”
Bedrock Wine Company website:
https://bedrockwineco.com
Once and Future Wine Company’s 2023 Spring Release has begun. Joel Peterson produces two varietal bottlings from the “Oakley Road Vineyard” - a Zinfandel and a Mataro (Mourvèdre).
In an essay accompanying the 2021 vintage tasting notes, Mr Peterson elaborates on the strategies adopted to moderate climate change-driven drought and rising temperatures.
“2021 Vintage Report - Once & Future Wine”
"…With the 2021 vintage, the ongoing California drought was entering its third year, the 2020-21 water year being the ninth driest in the past 127 years of record keeping. From the January, 2023, perspective, it is hard to remember how much the drought influenced the shape of the 2021 vintage. The effect on the vines was profound and, as a consequence, the effect on the wine profile was substantial and required winemaking vigilance.
"…Lessons come from the warm, dry climate in Oakley, where we have earlier bloom, earlier veraison, earlier harvest, and more likelihood of avoiding the most devastating consequences of heat, which can be extreme in this location. Zinfandel is an earlier ripening grape that develops pleasing flavors earlier in its ripening cycle…
"Earlier harvested grapes from earlier ripening vines produce wines that are more balanced, with moderate alcohol, that have more complexity and interest than grapes picked later. Those later-picked grapes with a longer hang time generally have more intensity, but with the downside of significant dehydration and overripe character that is accompanied by high alcohol content.
"In 2021, I applied this concept of earlier harvest to most of my old-vine Zinfandel. All were picked between August 16 and September 7, well before the Cabernet Sauvignon, which can be harvested as late as early November. The wines are very pretty, transparent, delicious, and lower in alcohol, and they will drink beautifully soon after bottling.
“While 2021 didn’t have much extreme heat, I followed the same picking strategy in 2022. All my Zinfandel vineyards except one were harvested before the heat dome settled into Northern California. This extreme heat in 2022 was very hard on later ripening grapes. I guess we will have to see if the market agrees that this is a good direction for Zinfandel…”.
"Ancient dry-farmed vines, planted in the late 1800s, spread down a north-and-east slope facing in the direction of the cooling afternoon winds and San Joaquin River, which, at one point in its past history, deposited the deep granitic sand dune-like soil where the roots of these vines have found safe haven. This is one of the few places in the world with Vinifera vines that are this old, grown on their own roots.
"The sand, the wind, and the ancient, own-rooted vines define the place. Mataro from this place is not the dark phenolic stuff that one expects of the grape but has a power that is much more balanced and charming.
“‘The 2021 Mataro “Oakley Road Vineyard” is decidedly lifted and floral in this vintage, with plenty of red berry character and tons of nuance. Sweet floral, spice accents and bright acids give this charming Mataro, from own rooted vines on sandy soils in Contra Costa County, a good bit of character.’ - Antonio Galloni, Vinous"
"‘Oakley Road’ Zinfandel - Contra Costa
"…A small number of Carignane and Mataro vines interplanted among the Zinfandel contribute complexity and modify the flavor profile, giving added definition to the wine.
"‘The 2021 Zinfandel “Oakley Road Vineyard” is rich and boisterous right out of the gate. Opulent and effusive, with soaring aromatics, the 2021 has a lot of energy. It is also a bit wild and unruly, but all the elements are nicely put together. Succulent dark cherry, plum, coffee, spice and leather are nicely pushed forward. This bold, punchy Zinfandel sure makes an impression.’ - Antonio Galloni, Vinous"
Once and Future Wine Company website:
https://www.onceandfuturewine.com
Alan & Julie Lucchesi own, serve as trustees, or are are contracted to farm many vineyard properties in eastern Contra Costa County. Alan Lucchesi, head of Brownstone Growers LLC, is the vineyard manager for Cline Family Cellars’ CoCo plantings under Mulehead Growers.
Grapes from these sites are purchased by various other producers, including Cline Cellars and Lucca Winery, which is owned by Alan’s brother Mark Lucchesi.
Properties owned by Lucchesi:
100 Kessler Ln, Oakley, CA
800 Brownstone Rd, Oakley, CA
8.4 acres
APN 034-130-004-4
Properties with Lucchesi as Permittee (owned by others):
City of Oakley
“Ambro xxx”
299-85 Brownstone Rd, Oakley
4 acres
“Antonaz”
1000 Vintage Dr, Oakley
4 acres
“Backman”
76 Bottlebrush Ct, Oakley
1.5 acres
“Calisesi”
4961 Empire Ave, Oakley
5 acres
“Carapinha xxx”
1150 Grapevine Lane, Oakley
2 acres
“Carpenter Ranch”
4660 Live Oak Avenue, Oakley
3.0 acres
“Crockett”
4370 Live Oak Ave, Oakley
1 acre
“DuPont 1 / Big Break”
“Bridgehead Vyd” and “Big Break Vyd”
160 acres (total of 150 acres planted)
Additional info:
“Contra Costa Confusion”
“Emerson”
~6079 Sellers Ave, Oakley
14.5 acres
“Ghilarducci 1” (Uprooted)
1001-1047 O’Hara Ave, Oakley, CA
This site is NOT the same “Ghilarducci Vyd” that the Erggelet Brothers (and Tom Del Barba?) began tending in 2022.
“Joseph”
2140 Laurel Rd, Oakley
3 acres
“Keeper 1 / Defremery”
4764 Sellers Ave, Oakley
7 acres
“Lucchesi 1”
~2200 O’Hara Ave, Oakley
40 acres
“Madruga-1”
? 1269 Laurel Rd ?, Oakley
2.0 acres
“Marchetti”
20 Poco Lane, Oakley
4.75 acres
County APN 041-090-036
“Mattamor”
1269 Laurel Rd, Oakley
2 acres
“Mazzoni”
5181 Live Oak Ave, Oakley
9 acres
The “Mazzoni-Live Oak Vyd” is Three Wine Co’s estate vineyard.
“Oakley City”
Walnut Meadows Drive and Gingham Way, Oakley (link)
5.0 acres
“Romiti”
2100 Oakley Road, Oakley
7.0 acres
“Rounds”
1000 Vintage Dr, Oakley
5 acres
“Salluce”
6170 Sellers Ave, Oakley
7 acres
“Shannon”
6057 Sellers Ave #6059, Oakley
4 acres
“Sherman”
944 Sherman Ln, Oakley
5.5 acres
“Simoni”
422 Laurel Rd, Oakley
8 acres
“Stonebarger / OUSD”
301 Brownstone Road, Oakley
25 acres
“Walnut Meadows”
Walnut Meadows Drive and Sunset Meadows Drive, Oakley (link)
5 acres
“Williams”
1700 O’Hara Avenue, Oakley
4 acres
City of Brentwood:
“Cambell”
1260 Quail Trail, Brentwood
7.5 acres
“Galletti”
520 Payne Avenue, Brentwood
9.0 acres
“Hetrick”
SE corner Delta Road & Knightsen Avenue, Knightsen
? 2221 Delta Road ?, Brentwood
8.5 acres
“Lazar”
222 Hanson Lane, Brentwood
2.5 acres
“McCauley Estate Vineyard”
2525 Sunset Road, Brentwood
4 acres
McCauley Estate Vineyards
“Nunn”
6280 Brentwood Boulevard, Brentwood
7 acres
Nunn Family Vineyards
“Peters”
1028 Sunnys Way, Brentwood
3 acres
“Ramon”
2195 Eden Plains Road, Brentwood
0.6 acres
“Xavier”
2301 Delta Road, Brentwood
6.5 acres
City of Knightsen:
“Badel”
Fischer Avenue & Petite Sirah Lane, Knightsen
6 acres
“Geisman”
1015 Sunnys Way, Knightsen
5 acres
“Ghidossi”
1035 Petite Sirah Lane, Knightsen
5 acres
“Massoni”
2560 Tule Ln, Knightsen
20 acres
APN 020-140-036-3
“Mori”
6200 Main Street/Brentwood Boulevard, Knightsen
50 acres
“Nichols Site”
1752 Bartels Drive, Knightsen
7.0 acres
“Peterson”
101 Blaine Lane, Knightsen
12.5 acres
“Ruth”
4750 Sellers Avenue, Knightsen
1.5 acres
“Strobel”
1041 Petite Sirah Lane, Knightsen
5 acres
“Thomas”
2650 Tule Lane, Knightsen
8 acres
City of Antioch:
“Macks”
Behind Holy Cross, S of E. 18th St, Antioch
? 2415 E 18th Street ?
3 acres
“Morales”
3001 Oakley Road, Antioch
18 acres
“PG&E”
SE of Holy Cross Cemetery, Antioch
3899-3922 Oakley Road, Antioch?
16 acres
“Wilbur”
Wilbur Avenue, across from PG&E, Antioch
25 acres
Internet Resources:
Somm Journal
“Sands of Wine”
June-July, 2019 (p. 104-107)
The Press
“Readers Solve O’Hara House Mystery”
by Samie Hartley
September 23, 2010
East Bay Times
“Vineyards to Pop Up in Vacant City Lots”
by Aaron Davis
March 1, 2017
Wine Berserkers
“Contra Costa County Wine Heritage” thread:
“Vineyard Roster”
County of Contra Costa
Document Center: Roster of Agricultural Permitees
County of Contra Costa
CCMap Interactive Map
Just saw this article linked from Facebook and thought it might be of interest here:
Clayton wineries fell victim to aphids, Prohibition
Drinking this tonight. First experience with Bedrock and I think it’s great!
I’ve been trying to read more about Oakley wines and this page is a great source, thanks! Thought I’d add my recent experiences as a very small scale winemaker (220-240# / year).
Just picked grapes on Sunday (Sept 1, 2024) at 361 Sandy Lane where Michael “the CA Wine Broker” hosted a dozen of us home winemakers. The Petite Sirah (closest to Main Street), the Carignan (closest to Sandy Lane, but away from Main Street), and the Mataro (closest to Neroly Road) were all ready to be picked. About half of the Carignan had been harvested already (probably commercially). I went with roughly 72% Carignan, 26% Mataro, 2% Petite Sirah. Michael called all 3 old vine / 50+ years old, but no idea if they are on their own root stock, or any older than that.
Last Year I picked some great Grenache at the Massoni vineyard in Knightsen, which is also listed on this page, I think those vines were said to be about 35 years old and being farmed organically now, but perhaps not certified organic yet.
