I found this interesting and since I know everyone hangs on my every word about wine, I am sure many of you will enjoy this link below. I continue to find the best CA pinot noir (for my palate, and my signature line bears that out FWIW) being grown in the Deep End, the top of the Anderson Valley. The link below will allow you to see just how close Bearwallow, Kiser and Wendling are actually clustered. I dig learning and see things with technology and this link really brings the Hwy 128 vineyards at the Deep End really into focus.
Very cool map Frankie! By the way, I really did enjoy that '10 En Haut, in fact I couldn’t stop imbibing. I think these will show dramatic improvement with age.
Bearwallow is large!
Mikey, I was not aware too that Monument Tree and Hacienda Secoya were so far north, and not that far from the Deep End vineyards above. Plus, all the Copain vineyards that I believe go into the Voisins blend (Hein, Hennenberg and Abel) are pretty close too.
PS–I did see the note on your 10 Kiser Haut. Maybe we can get one open when we do the Offline here in a few weeks. You liked it more than I did but I am coming from a single experience bottle.
I didn’t know that Kiser En Haut looks like a Tyrannosaurus.
Damn, beat me to it AGAIN!
That’s why their wines have so much bite.
Everyvine has some great maps. The vineyard across the road to the south of Kiser (with the pond in the corner) is Wiley Vineyard - worked with Pinot from there at Harrington Wines for many years. Wiley has much older vines than the other sites shown on this section of the map, with much of their Pinot dating to the early 1980s - a true Pinot pioneer of the Deep End. The earliest plantings at Wiley (Chardonnay vines that are no longer there) were made in the early 1970s, some of the earliest modern winegrape plantings in Anderson Valley.
Surprised their are so few vineyards in the Anderson Valley. Why the different vineyard colors and I couldn’t find any from Navaro?
The map linked in the OP is zoomed in to a small portion of Anderson Valley’s “Deep End”. Here’s a link to the overall view of the Anderson Valley AVA - you can zoom in to any part of it from here: Anderson Valley AVA - everyvine.com map
Not all the vineyards are identified on the map - Wiley is just one example. Navarro’s vineyards are in this view but are not identified (though the winery / tasting room is marked): Navarro
I believe you have to send in info for your vineyard in order to be added to everyvine.com’s maps and database, which is why many sites are not identified on their maps. The colors on the vineyards refer to everyvine.com’s vineyard rating system: Everyvine vineyard rating - I must admit that I’ve never paid any attention to this at all and it’s pretty much meaningless in my book.
Fantastic map. Did not know that Rhys had so many acres under vine, plus Copain was right next door.
Thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it, Arn. This is a special place in California for Pinot Noir.
Arnold,
After buying the property (with 6 acres already under vine) in 2008, we planted an additional 25 acres of Pinot Chardonnay and Syrah. This new acreage has started contributing to the Bearwallow Pinot bottling in 2013. And we will have a 2014 Chardonnay from the new vines as well.
Overall, you are correct. 31 acres of grapevines is a lot!!
Thanks, Frank. Really nice map. Puts things in context.
Oy Vey!! Another Chard and Syrah plus 31 acres of deep Anderson Valley goodness…what is one to do with a wine budget? I know 1st world problems, but none-the-less Kevin, do you have plans for any additional vineyards?
Russ,
I think the honest answer is “yes, I have a problem”. We have a new Santa Cruz Mountain vineyard named “Mount Pajaro” that will produce grapes next year. Meanwhile we remain fascinated with terroir and CA has many that are not explored…
“Meanwhile we remain fascinated with terroir and CA has many that are not explored…”
Holy crap. Really? Me thinks I need to go into a deep freeze for awhile in order to prevent further wine buying…
Cheers,
JP
Forgive the ignorance here, but where is the Goldeneye “The Narrows” vineyard? I thought it was contiguous with Rhys and Copain.
Patrick,
“The Narrows” is the next vineyard to the south and slight east of Bearwallow. There is a grove of trees in between so the vineyards are not exactly contiguous.
Who’s behind the website? It appears to be a wikipedia of vineyard information. Would be nice if you could plug in an address and zoom to the location a la Google Maps. As noted previously, a lot of vineyards are missing. Was surprised to see that Forman Vineyard is not on the map or mentioned as a significant winery in the St. Helena region, for example.
Really great motorcycling in and around this part of California.