Contra Costa County Wine Heritage

WINE TALK
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The previous thread post discussed several measures taken by Oakley’s City Council to preserve old-growth vineyards.

Below is the City of Oakley Staff Report (05/13/2014), received from Kenneth L Strelo, relating the results of Agricultural Conservation and Viticulture Program, Phase 1.


"History of Phase 1:

"When the ACVP first kicked off, the intention was to take two areas of focus (viticulture in Oakley and agricultural conservation), and approach both on their own merit, but also see how the two could co-exist. The viticulture aspect was to be based more in the heritage, culture, and future branding of grapes in Oakley, while the agricultural conservation was to focus more on how to conserve, minimize impacts, or provide mitigation for the loss of protected agricultural land in Oakley. The initial mapping exercises proved to be much broader than initially envisioned, as did the vineyard parcel inventory, which spurred additional ideas for data collection and analysis.

"Through additional research and analysis of entitled/non-entitled land, existing General Plan land use designations, and Department of Conservation Farmland maps, it was found that the non-entitled land that would result in ‘significant impacts’ to loss of agricultural land if developed was spread throughout 48 separate parcels, 37 of which were each under 10 acres. Out of the remaining 11 parcels, three were over 20 acres, and only one was over 25 acres (88 acres, Cline vineyard off of Big Break Road). The likelihood of existing large, producing vineyards to cease production and request developments rights in the near future is unknown; but each project would undergo environmental analysis on its own accord. In addition to a lower need to establish immediate mitigation fees for undeveloped properties, the Walnut Meadows ancient vines relocation project produced a successful crop yield, which brought attention to Oakley’s vineyard relocation efforts and potential for success.

“Overall feedback and interest began to lean toward the viticulture aspect of the ACVP. Due to the tight budget for Phase 1, the Staff time, costs and potential legal fees of establishing a development impact fee (subject to the Mitigation Fee Act) associated with an ‘agricultural conservation program’ to charge for mitigation of those lands could be substantial. This insight, along with the desire to further promote Oakley’s history and future with vineyards, led to the direction of the ACVP to focus more time and research of Phase 1 on the ‘Viticulture’ aspect of the ACVP, and holding the ‘Agricultural Conservation’ aspect to a later date, or handling those potential impacts on a project by project basis.”


"Summary of Vineyard Parcel Inventory:

“The mapping and research portion of Phase 1 not only resulted in valuable information that can be sorted in a spreadsheet table, but also offers a bird’s eye view of existing conditions in Oakley. That aerial view enables ANRT to clump together certain areas and find corridors and clusters for areas of concentration. Below is a summary of the overall numbers, as well as three potential vineyard cluster areas.”


"Basis information:

• Vineyard parcels: 89 parcels with 723 acres and 54 Landowners

• Parcels > 10 acres: 44 parcels with 538 acres and 13 Landowners

• Entitled Parcels: 11 parcels with 193 acres and 6 Landowners

• Parcels < 10 acres: 45 parcels with 185 acres and 41 Landowners

• Entitled Parcels: 1 parcel with 1 acres and 1 Landowner "


"General Areas for Concentration - Vineyard ‘Clusters’:

• O’Hara Cluster: 14 parcels with 82 acres and 9 Landowners

• Rose Cluster: 6 parcels with 49 acres and 5 Landowners

• Neroly Cluster: 15 parcels with 141 acres and 7 Landowners "

The “O’Hara Cluster” is at least partially owned by the Lucchesi family which, currently, is opposing the proposed easement policy recommended in Phase 2. An earlier article on Phase 1 indicated that Mr Tom Del Barba was uneasy about participating in the project (see a post further down for the source article).


"Topic Points: While the City Council may address any portion of the existing ACVP or other topics not covered in this report, Staff has provided a few ideas and recommendations to promote discussion and deliberation, where applicable:

• Discuss potential funding source for future phases, if the Council chooses to continue with the program.

• Discuss the three potential ‘Vineyard Clusters’ for voluntary vineyard preservation."


"Recommendation: Due to the potential for future job growth, Staff recommends the potential ‘Neroly Vineyard Cluster’ area, located in the Light Industrial zoning district, north of Oakley Road, not be considered as part of a future phase.

• Discuss a more focused direction for the program.

“Assuming the City Council wants to continue with the ACVP, subject to available funding, Staff recommends the program be amended to focus on the viticulture aspect and not spend resources on researching a mitigation fee for agricultural conservation as related to the California Environmental Quality Act impacts to farmland. There has been discussion at the County level of a potential county-wide mitigation fee, which would benefit all cities and the County in regards to the Mitigation Fee Act. ANRT will touch on this topic as part of their presentation.”

“Recommendation: Staff recommends the City Council accept the deliverables from Phase 1 of the ACVP and direct Staff on whether to pursue Phase 2, subject to available funding.”

I believe the above-mentioned “Walnut Meadows” vineyard refers to the site depicted in the previous thread post’s video, wherein ancient Alicante Bouschet vines were uprooted, transported to a new site, and replanted.

Under the care of Alan Lucchesi (Brownstone Growers), the vines continue to bear fruit, though yields are not as heavy as they were in the year of the transplantation. According to a 2011 article: “Council members recently agreed to use a 5.7-acre parcel on Walnut Meadows Drive near the Vintage Parkway subdivision to preserve these vines.”

“Agricultural Conservation and Viticulture Program (ACVP) – Consideration of Phase 1 Deliverables and Future Phase 2”
Ken Strelo, Senior Planner & Joe Ciolek, Agricultural Natural Resources Trust

https://www.ci.oakley.ca.us/may-13th-2014/text5-2-agricultureal-conservation/

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I just confirmed that the “Walnut Meadows Project/Vineyard” is the Alicante Bouschet re-planting mentioned previously.

In its first harvest following the transplantation, the vines provided a meager crop. These grapes were picked mere months after being dug-up and relocated!

The “Walnut Meadows Vineyard” yielded a whopping 9 tons of grapes in its second year. This may support the idea that old vineyards can be uprooted and replanted with limited negative effects.

Several years later, it appears that the yields are less than 50% of previous harvests.

I hope to gather more information on the long-term prospects of this daring experiment.

image24.jpg

Romick in Oakley Blog
“Harvesting 100-Year-Old Vines”
September 19, 2012

"In late March of 2011, about 2,200 ancient vines were transplanted from the DuPont property along Bridgehead Road to the property often referred to as the “Legless Lizard Parcels”, located between the BNSF rail line and Walnut Meadows Drive. The Alicante Bouschet varietal vines, planted in Oakley over 100 years ago, were removed from the DuPont property to make way for the anticipated power plant. Using a backhoe the vines were uprooted and then replanted in holes dug by hand on the 5.7 acres of land the City leased to Alan Lucchesi, Mulehead Growers, Inc.

“Although there was a small harvest in the first year, about 2 tons, this year’s bounty was around 9 tons.”



The following article raises two significant questions:

  • What became of the Zinfandel vines, as they were not transplanted to the “Walnut Meadows Vyd”?


  • What is to happen once the City of Oakley is able to afford construction of the city park, originally planned at the Walnut Meadows location?


    Mercury News
    “Oakley Finds New Home for Century-Old Grapevines”
    by Rowena Coetsee
    February 22, 2011
    Alternate Link: Oakley finds new home for century-old grapevines
    "The city has designated a future park as a temporary home for grapevines that otherwise might be lost forever to development.

"Council members recently agreed to use a 5.7-acre parcel on Walnut Meadows Drive near the Vintage Parkway subdivision to preserve these vines; on Tuesday, they voted to lease the property to a farm-management company that cultivates grapes.

"Mulehead Growers maintains about 17 acres of vineyards at the DuPont site on Bridgehead Road, where a power plant is planned.

"The idea is to transplant the rarer of the two varietals there to the undeveloped area, which the city cannot yet afford to turn into a park.

"City officials also are trying to find homes for the remaining Zinfandel plants, and are considering two privately owned sites.

"Saving Oakley’s vineyards from bulldozers is important from a historical standpoint, said Vice Mayor Kevin Romick, noting that Italian and Portuguese settlers took advantage of the area’s sandy soil with its optimum water retention and drainage qualities for cultivating grapes.

"As such, vineyards are part of the city’s identity and a feature that sets Oakley apart from its neighbors, which have clay soil, he said.

"It makes more sense to preserve the remaining vines in town than replace them with buildings and try to mitigate that loss by buying farmable acreage outside city limits, said Romick, a member of the council’s agriculture mitigation subcommittee.

"The impetus to save vineyards isn’t coming only from the city, he added.

"‘Obviously, if you have a unique vine, you want to hang onto those,’ he said of farming operations such as Mulehead Growers.

"About five of the 17 acres the company maintains at the DuPont site produce the Alicante Bouschet varietal, a relatively rare grape in this area, farm manager Alan Lucchesi said.

"What’s more, the vines are about 100 years old, he said.

"Vintners mix the grape’s unusually bright red juice with other wines to give them color, he said.

"Once it has signed the 10-year lease, Mulehead Growers will have to act quickly; the vines will remain dormant for only another month, Lucchesi said.

"As the days grow warmer, the plants become more sensitive to the shock of being uprooted, he said.

“About 20 percent of grapevines that are transplanted don’t survive, and it takes at least one year for them to produce fruit again, City Manager Bryan Montgomery said.”

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Romick in Oakley Blog
“Saving Oakley’s Heritage”
by Kevin Romick
March 31, 2011

Romick in Oakley Blog
“Harvesting Ancient Vines in Oakley”
by Kevin Romick
September 15, 2011

The Press
“Oakley Looks to Explore Vineyards”
October 26, 2017


What are Legless Lizards?

California Herps
“Northern Legless Lizard - Anniella pulchra”

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Out of the blue, Wine-Searcher revealed a new Contra Costa wine to me:

Deux Punx 2016 Contra Costa Mourvedre (+16% Grenache Co-Fermented).

While I know nothing about this operation, I have sent their Facebook page a message for more information. The price seems very tempting at $22/btl, but they only ship in California. :neutral_face:

https://mkt.com/deuxpunx/
original.jpeg

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Drew, incredible thread.

In all of your research is there a master list of vineyards available?

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Does anyone know if any growers are willing to sell lots of one ton or less?

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I am trying to secure something like that from Mr Kevin Romick of Oakley. Nothing yet.

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Tim,

I receive emails from Michael @ CalWineBroker in Contra Costa County for on-site picks. They are often spur-of-the-moment, meaning that you receive a week or so notice. He won’t divulge the source vineyard until the day of the pick. I know that he can help arrange larger volume grape sales.

CalWineBroker
http://www.calwinebroker.com

If you live in the CoCo area, the Contra Costa Wine Group is a home winemaking group to connect with for some helpful information an cooperation.

Contra Costa Wine Group
http://www.ccwinegroup.com

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From the “Wayward Tendrils” viticultural history website:

A History of the Napa Viticultural District
(Napa, Solano, and Contra Costa Counties)
by Ernest P. Peninou, assisted by Gail Unzelman & Michael Anderson
345pp, 39 illustrations
[PDF file download]


This publication provides a very comprehensive look at the wine growing/making history of several California counties:

• descriptive text (from the beginnings to c1960);
• grape acreage statistics (1856-1992) with county, district, and state totals;
• directories of grape growers (1860-1900);
• illustrations and index.


Wayward Tendrils website
CA Viticultural District Histories:

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The ancient Oakley vineyards closest to the windy shores of the San Francisco Bay/Carquinez Strait are also adjacent to railroad lines.

A lawsuit alleges that BNSF rail line workers negligently sprayed plant-killing chemicals along the tracks that possibly harmed some nearby grape vines! [cry.gif]


East Bay Times
“Oakley Grape, Almond Farmers Sue BNSF Railroad for Herbicide Use”
by Nate Gartrell
January 23, 2018

“Last week, a group called Mulehead Growers - which manages a large patch of vineyards around 3231 Main St. in Oakley - sued the Burlington Northern Railroad Company, better known as BNSF, for unspecified damages. BNSF, second only to Union Pacific in its size and miles of track owned, controls most of the railroads in East Contra Costa, including a mile-long section that runs adjacent to the vineyard.”

Also…

Wine Industry Insight
“Bay Area Wine Grape Growers Sue BNSF Railway Alleging Illegal, Negligent Herbicide Damage”
January 26, 2018

"Two farming companies owned by Fred and Nancy Cline of Cline Family Cellars have sued the BNSF Railway Company and three of its contractors alleging negligent and illegal use of powerful herbicides that damaged vineyards and orchards near the train tracks.

"…The damages, according to the complaint, affected four land parcels, totaling 171 acres farmed by Mulehead and Oxfoot.

"…The Mulehead/Oxfoot complaint stated that they ‘first noticed symptoms of the damage caused by said application in March of 2016, when they first became observable.’

"…All of the affected land is owned by the two Cline partnerships except for a 5.76-acre parcel leased from the city of Oakley. Of the Cline vineyards two are named in the lawsuit as ‘Bridgehead’, and a third as ‘Big Break’.

“All three areas are especially known for Zinfandel.”

517fb1be386e641b1bf1b6793076e7f6f5c701d2

"Cline Cellars established its reputation in the late 1980s as one of the top ‘Rhone Rangers’ with Mourvèdre and Carignane from its ‘Ancient Vines’ vineyards in Contra Costa County. It is unknown if any of those older vineyards are affected. :frowning:

“Ridge Vineyards produces Mourvèdre from the ‘Bridgehead’ area as well.”


Just to clarify, Ridge Vineyards bottled reds from the “Bridgehead Vineyard” in the 1990’s.

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Bay area newspaper articles from the 1990s and early 2000s reported that many new vineyards were being established in eastern Contra Costa County.

Even so, a number of the region’s oldest plantings faced increased risk of being replaced by shopping centers, apartment complexes, etc. The economic downturn of 2008 gave many century-old heritage vineyards a stay-of-execution, if not a reprieve.


Older Contra Costa Wine-Related Articles:

The following 1999 SF Gate article explains how a handful of California wineries stimulated demand for old-vine fruit amid Contra Costa’s suburban expansion. In many cases, inflated grape prices merely forestalled the destruction of certain vineyards.

SF Gate
“Liquid Gold / Grape Vines Keeping Oakley Green”
by John King
April 27, 1999

"During the 1980s, even as suburbanization arrived full-throttle, winemakers realized that Oakley’s sandy soil and distinct climate - hot days, cool nights - was ideal for raising strong red wine grapes. Led by Fred Cline, whose family is from the area but whose winery, Cline Cellars, now is based in Sonoma County, they pushed landowners to keep the old vines in the ground, and add new ones.

"The fruit of that labor can be seen today in bottles of Zinfandel that sell for as much as $30. Meanwhile, Contra Costa grapes have been purchased by wineries for up to $2,000 a ton.

"‘More and more wineries are going into Oakley looking for grapes,’ says Ehren Jordan, a winemaker who has produced old-vine zinfandels for Neyers and Turley Wine Cellars. ‘All of a sudden, growers are earning a living rather than supplementing an income.’

"Indeed, both Dwight Meadows and his son, Aaron, stress that they are in a business. Dwight and his father-in-law, for instance, have sold land to developers in the past and expect to do it again. There’s no grand philosophy of land preservation at work.

“‘If we were getting $200 a ton, I’d rip the vines out and plant homes’, shrugs Aaron, 29. ‘Grapes are about the only thing you can grow on an economic basis here.’”

It is difficult finding current information on Diablo Vineyards Planting & Management nowadays. A couple of decades ago, the group consisted of Dwight Meadows, Dick Vanderkous, and Tom Powers.

While family names like Del Barba, Gonsalves, Cline, and Lucchesi are associated with farming older eastern Contra Costa sites, Diablo Vineyards established and maintained newer backyard mini-vineyards.

SF Gate
“Bay Area’s Rich Play Vine Games / Mini-Vineyards Replace Rolling Lawns as Sign of Wealth Around Upscale Homes”
by John King
June 22, 2000

"…[Tom] Powers had his vines planted by [Dick] Vanderkous [yes, THAT Vanderkous], a building contractor who makes wine and grows grapes at his hilltop home in Martinez. Last year, after repeated calls from neighbors, the pair sensed a lifestyle vein waiting to be tapped.

“They joined Dwight and Aaron Meadows, a father-and-son team from Oakley who are full-time grape growers, and the foursome chose ‘Got Grapes?’ as its slogan. The company has since taken on nearly 20 jobs.”


I do not know what the current status of Oakley Union School’s vineyard holdings.

East Bay Times
“Oakley School District Dabbles in Wine Business”
Jonathan Lockett
May 20, 2009

"…The [Oakley Union Elementary School] district purchased the land for nearly $11 million in December 2007 through state financial hardship money. School districts can get hardship money if they have a need for a school, but lack developer fee monies, Rogers said. Knightsen School District’s Old River Elementary was built using the same funding.

"…Lucchesi, who works more than 400 acres of vineyards in Oakley, Knightsen, Brentwood and Antioch, said the vineyard produces Mourvèdre grapes, which are also grown in Australia and France.

"The vineyard currently encompasses 17 acres, but could be extended a couple of acres in the future. Lucchesi said one of the vineyard’s 7,650 plants can yield 15 to 20 pounds of grapes.

“‘It’s a basic average of three to four tons (of grapes) per acre,’ said Lucchesi, who then harvests the grapes and sells them to wineries in Sonoma.

"The district gets 25 percent of the proceeds, which was used this year for adding new technology, Rogers said.

“While the land is being put to good use, Rogers isn’t sure how long the vineyard will be running. He estimated the vineyard will remain a minimum of six to eight years.”


Mr Jeff Ghidossi built a lake in Brentwood to attract fellow water-skiers. He later enhanced his residential property project by adding vineyards to the periphery.

SF Gate
“His Dream Didn’t Float / Water-Skier Can’t Fathom Why No One Jumped at Chance to Live on Private Lake”
by John King
June 25, 1998

"…Now, his friends love using the lake. But they wouldn’t pay to live there.

"‘A lot of people would say, "What am I going to do with 10 acres?’‘’ Ghidossi concedes.

“Last year, Ghidossi came up with an answer: He decided to add a vineyard to the mix. The custom lots would be adorned with plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah grapes, 37 acres in all.”

Today, Diablo Shores Vineyard Estates project appears to have successfully fulfilled two of its three purposes: the lake hosts ski tournaments; the vineyards are yielding fruit. However, only five of the six homes have been built.

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Edible East Bay
“The Unknown Vineyards of Contra Costa County”
by Derrick Schneider
Fall, 2006

"Imagine an upstart winemaker fleeing Contra Costa County’s prestigious but high-priced vineyards for the dirt-cheap farmland in the unknown Napa Valley. In the early twentieth century, Martinez and Oakley, not Rutherford and St. Helena, were darlings of the wine world. The Christian Brothers winery was in Martinez, the world’s largest wine cellar was Winehaven in Richmond, and 6,000 acres were under vine…".

Any article that begins like that has captured MY attention!


Richmond Confidential
“Before Napa, There was Winehaven”
by Phoebe Fronistas
October 13, 2009

20091012_winehaven_lead-1024x611.jpg
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East Bay Times
“Fate of Point Molate’s Winehaven Castle - Once the World’s Largest Winery - Awaits Another Chapter”
by Ali Tadayon
September 23, 2018

“…Winehaven was constructed after the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake by the California Wine Association — a group of Bay Area winemakers and sellers who banded together to dominate the California wine market. The association’s previous facility in San Francisco was destroyed in the earthquake…”.


The Catholic Northwest Progress, Vol 71, # 9
“Christian Brothers in the West”
March 7, 1968

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Drew, I was watching some news on TV yesterday and saw a story about a proposed Islamic Community Center in Oakley. The reporter was standing in front of the site and there were lots of old vines behind her - I figured if anyone here would know that vineyard, it would be you. It’s at the northwest corner of Oakley Road and Neroly Road, just east of the freeway. You may have posted about this site before, but it just came to my attention yesterday.

Google Maps satellite view
Google Street View

Story about the proposed project

Can you tell us what vineyard that is?

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Ken, I will check it out.

As much as I have been investigating the vineyards of Oakley and Antioch, there’s:

A) Not much out there;
B) A LOT of conflicting information.

I hope a local will chime in before I can provide any guesses. :slight_smile:

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The “Sophia Favalora Vineyard” was planted in Oakley, CA, in 1999, with input from Ken Rosenblum and his daughter Shauna (of Rock Wall), to heritage vineyard cuttings. Frank Favalora now has opened his own winery in Livermore, CA.

Grapes from the “Sophia Favalora Vyd” have been sourced by several producers, including Rosenblum Cellars, Rock Wall Wine Company, R&B Cellars, and Ehrenberg Cellars.

59790e6f1bb07.image.jpg

Independent News
“New Winery, Venerable Vineyard: Favalora Vineyard Winery Opens a Tasting Room”
by Harry Stoll
July 27, 2017


"Frank planted his vineyard in 1999, using cuttings from the vineyard of his aunt and uncle, Gertie and Stan Planchon; thus the ‘Planchon Clone’ designation for his Zinfandel. The Planchons planted their vineyard in 1902 and it’s still thriving.

"…At the new tasting room, Frank will be pouring a 2013 Zinfandel, Planchon Clone, from his ‘Sophia Favalora Vineyard’; a 2015 Zinfandel, St. Peter’s Church Clone, from ‘Madruga Vineyard’ in Oakley; a 2015 late-harvest Zinfandel from ‘Madruga Vineyard’; a 2014 Carignane from ‘Del Barba Vineyard’ in Oakley, from 100-year-old vines; and a 2015 Carignane from ‘Del Barba Vineyard’. Del Barba is a well-known name in Oakley. In 1912 Italian immigrant Venanzio Del Barba opened a store on Main Street. He also was a farmer.

“Frank will be adding a Barbera, a Mourvèdre, and a Petite Sirah. Prices will range from $20 to $40. Frank wants to keep prices low as his is a boutique winery.”


Favalora Vineyards Winery
Facebook profile:

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I actually got grapes from that vineyard in 2011 from Michael (Calwinebroker), it was only my 2nd year making wine and I feel like i kinda let the grapes down and wish I could get in a pick at that vineyard again. It was Zin, Mataro, Carignane field blend as far as I remember.

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"Pending Projects:

"IBN Sina Community Center Conditional Use Permit (CUP 06-17) and Design Review (DR 08-17)

“Application by Hossam Mohamed requesting a Conditional Use Permit (CUP 06-17) and Design Review (DR 08-17) for approval to establish and construct a mixed use public assembly and residential project consisting of: 100,000 sq. ft. senior housing building consisting of 200 units; a 20,000 sq. ft. private PK-12 school with an 8,000 sq. ft. gym; a 10,000 sq. ft. mosque with an attached 10,000 sq. ft. event hall and a 3,237 sq. ft. temporary shelter for families. The project is proposed to be developed in multiple phases. The project site is designated Commercial in the Oakley 2020 General Plan and zoned General Commercial (C). The Project is located at the NW corner of Oakley Road and Neroly Road. (APN: 051-210-025).”*

  • Oops! I failed to notice that the article featured the SAME information! :neutral_face:


    From an Assessor Site:

“APN: 051-210-025-6
Situs Address: NEROLY RD OAKLEY CA 94561
Mailing Address†: 3520 BRIARWOOD CT
ANTIOCH CA 94509-5636
Legal Description: POR SEC 21 T2N R2E
Use Type: AGRICULTURAL
Tax Rate Area: 019-099
Assessment
Year Assd: 2017
Land: $383,813
Structure(s): $8,910
Other:
Total Land and Improv: $392,723
HO Exempt?: N
Lot Acres: 14.344
Lot SqFt: 624,825
Recent Sale History
Recording Date: 07/26/2017
Document #: 133459”

https://assr.parcelquest.com/Home/Details/0

† This address belongs to Larry Mackay , the Principal at Natural Construction Co., a construction company in Oakley. I don’t know anything about the vineyard (STILL).

Updated:

The PAST View of the Site Looks Like This:
project%2F4165%2Fbody%2F14_acer_arial_with_streets_1.jpg
The FUTURE Plan for the Site Looks Like This:
project%2F4165%2Fbody%2Fibnsina.jpg
I have no doubt that the crowded Eastern CoCo area probably is in need of a community center. I just wish old vineyards were not considered disposable.

Update Images from:

Screenshot_2018-01-31-22-58-41.png

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From the latest Cruse Wine Company release email:

“The only red from this release is a new wine for us, the 2016 Evangelho Carignan. It is an absolute pleasure to work with this famed site, where 125+ year old vines sit in deep, beach sand soils, across from a PG&E plant in warm, rather industrial Contra Costa county. This little oasis produces wines that are both light on the tongue, but still hold on to the depth that comes with older vines. The nose is spice, bramble, cured meats, and sweet cherries. The palate is bright and lively, but with darker base notes of pencil lead, ash, and smoke. It’s super long and weighty, but drinks light because of the lower tannins of the variety. Highly recommend decanting as it’s still a bit tight now. An intriguing, pretty, spring red. We made 125 cases and it’s $35 per bottle.”
CWC_CA copy.jpg

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I found a news story about the first stage of the Oakley Agricultural Conservation and Viticulture Program:


East Bay Times
“Study to Help Oakley Leaders Balance Growth, Ag Preservation”
by Rowena Coetsee
June 2, 2014


_"The Agricultural-Natural Resources Trust shared the results of an inventory that it had taken of parcels where farmers are growing grapes — 723 acres all told.

"The nonprofit also studied Oakley’s general plan, which depicts where the city intends to allow residential and commercial development over the long term.

"…In addition, ANRT used maps that the state creates to identify the location and number of parcels it considers important farmland, a designation that many of Oakley’s vineyards have.

"By overlaying the three sets of information, the organization has enabled city officials to see more easily not only where vineyards are located but which of those parcels the state considers valuable — information the city didn’t have ready access to before — and the extent of development their land-use designation allows.

"…ANRT’s mapping exercises also helped the city identify three large clusters of vineyards that it now will focus on preserving,_ [Councilman Kevin] Romick said.

“Concentrating on these areas makes the most sense because it’s easier getting grant money to pay growers for keeping their property off-limits to development when larger parcels of land are involved, he said.”
20140602__ecctoly0320vineyards1.jpg

Agricultural-Natural Resources Trust website:

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I should have posted this article link FIRST, as it serves as a succinct overview of the ACVP:*


The Press
“Oakley Ag Program Moves Ahead”
April 2, 2014

"The Oakley City Council received an update at its March 11 meeting about the city’s Agricultural Conservation and Viticulture Program (ACVP), which is being conducted by Agricultural Natural Resources Trust (ANRT).

"Through mapping and site verification, ANRT determined Oakley has approximately 89 separate parcels consisting of 723 acres of active vineyards. Out of those 723 acres, approximately 520 remain unentitled - without development plans already approved. ‘The mapping and data collection is a crucial step in moving this program forward, because it provides Oakley’s residents and the City Council a wide angle approach with what currently exists in Oakley,’ said Senior Planner Ken Strelo. ‘ANRT is not only looking at vineyard locations, but also General Plan land use designations, zoning, Department of Conservation Farmland maps, parcel sizes for feasibility of preservation, and areas of parcel clusters.’

“‘Oakley’s agriculture heritage faces the very real threat of just fading away,’ said Councilmember Kevin Romick."

I have reached out to Mr Ken Strelo for more information about the City’s efforts to catalogue and map-out its vineyards. I also hope to determine whether the age of viticultural sites factors into Oakley’s preservation efforts.

★ UPDATE ★

Mr Strelo was kind enough to respond to my email.

He shared a Google Earth map file of the “City of Oakley’s ACVP, Phase 2 Vineyard Inventory Map”.

Integrated into the satellite/map images of the eastern Contra Costa area is every viticultural site within the city limits. The creation of this file represents countless hours of work, compiling parcel data and organizing the vineyards into “Clusters” targeted for preservation. At this time, the ACVP’s multi-stage plan has stalled due to a handful of reasons.

Email me if you would like a copy of the Google Earth file which represents the City of Oakley’s ACVP vineyard inventory.


Other Resources:

The “City of Oakley 2020 General Plan (updated 2016)” presents this as its “After” image of the 2020 General Plan.

46110319cbad4d2b3aec658dedd76ce86720f54f

The difficult-to-see purple blocks appear to be vineyard sites that might be spared by the 2020 General Plan.

Tracks and Traces Blog
“A Map of California Crop Production”
by Logan Williams
May 21, 2019

Interactive Map:
“What Grows in California”

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I stumbled across a new winery in searching for information on the Del Barba Vineyard.

Wing Span Wines
• Produced by Tessa Perliss
• Made by Aaron Pott
download (2).jpeg
https://www.wingspan.wine/wine

Wing Span Wines produces a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon/Petite Sirah Rosé and a Zinfandel from the Del Barba Vineyard!!! Alas, the current line-up appears to be all sold out.

From the Wing Span website:

“SATURN RETURN Rosé is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon from Calistoga (The Ravens Vineyard - a 2.6 acre hillside vineyard that was planted in 2008) and 32% Petite Sirah from Stags Leap District (Stags Leap Ranch - at the base of the Stags Leap Palisades). Both vineyards are farmed organically and cane pruned. They are soil types that are rocky, loamy and volcanic. 140 cases produced.”


“MOONS OF NEPTUNE Old-Vine Zinfandel comes for a historic California vineyard, Del Barba Ranch. This 100-year-old, own-rooted vineyard is full of unruly, head-trained vines. Planted in sand, in what was once an ancient seabed, it’s withstood phylloxera, Prohibition, and other plights upon California farm land over the last century. Organic and dry-farmed, this vineyard yields a powerful and concentrated fruit.”
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