Vineyards

Terra Bella was 180 acres of rolling cattle land when we discovered it in 2000. Upon purchasing it in early 2001 we began the somewhat arduous task of turning it into rows of voluptuous vines rising from the lower elevations at 1600 feet to the upper hilltops at 1900 feet. The rootstock is 1103P with Tablas Creek Clones of Syrah and Syrah Noir. The Grenache is also 1103P rootstock with Alban Clones. The development was designed to preserve all native trees on the property which eliminated some plantable areas, but preserved the beauty of the property and the integrity of the natural surroundings.

The vineyard is farmed using organic and non-toxic practices and materials in keeping with our family’s philosophy of protecting the environment. There are five blocks of Syrah and one of Grenache and a couple of acres which could become vines in the future. Blessed with calcareous soils, the morning fog and ocean breezes off the Pacific just 30 minutes to the west and full sun much of the growing season, the climate is perfect for the intensity of fruit we strive for.

From the beginning, outstanding vintners have sought to buy grapes from Terra Bella including the famous Spottswoode in St. Helena,  Andrew Murray Vineyards,  J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines,  Montes Napa, and McPrice Meyers Wine Company, many of whom have become Parker favorites with their Terra Bella wines. This encouraged us to carve out our own niche in the wine industry with small, hand crafted lots of wine from our esteemed vineyards. The marriage of Terra Bella grapes and Andrew Murray’s winemaking takes us to the goal we set for ourselves when we first decided to enter the wine business ~ quite simply, to produce the finest Rhônes in the Central Coast.