Vineyards that provide grapes for the Coturri Winery

Coturri Estate Vineyard
Zinfandel and Chardonnay (7-acres)
Sonoma Mountain

The history: The Estate Vineyard is situated at the Coturri Winery along Enterprise Road on Sonoma Mountain. It is above the tiny hamlet of Glen Ellen in the region known as the Valley of the Moon. Red Coturri and his sons Phil and Tony first planted 2-acres of vines in 1967, and another 5-acres in 1975. The Estate Vineyard is a second generation planting - the first was pre-prohibition before the 1920's. The vineyard is comprised of primarily of California Zinfandel clones on phylloxera resistant St. George rootstock, with approximately a half acre of Chardonnay. The Coturri Estate Vineyard is dry farmed, and head pruned in the traditional Italian goblet style.

Micro-Climate: The location is unique for a Sonoma Valley Appellation vineyard- it sits at 750 feet above sea level, which is a perfect elevation for Zinfandel grapes. Tucked into the cleavage of Sonoma Mountain, the vines receive a southeast sun exposure. Creeping seasonal coastal fog off the Pacific Ocean injects a beneficial cooling effect during the summer months and the vineyard avoids the extreme heat that vines on the valley floor get. Conversely, from January to April, it is warmer up on Sonoma Mountain and the vines are protected from winter and spring frosts.

Soils: Many moons ago, Sonoma Mountain was an active volcano and a series of eruptions spewed ash and lava to create diverse soil types at the site of the vineyard. The dry farmed vines at the Coturri Estate Vineyard send down deep taproots that encounter different rocky red clay based soils, and layers of volcanic decomposed ash and lava, which adds complexity to the grapes. Balanced nutritious elements and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium are added to the soil by planting cover crops like peas, oats, winter wheat and mustard and disking in ground up oyster shells and compost. An important cover crop used is bell beans, a deep-rooted legume with nodules that act like a straw to suck nitrogen from the air into the soil, this naturally occurring process is called nitrogen fixation.

Environmentally sound farming practices: Only the best agricultural practices are employed at the Estate Vineyard and it receives special handling to ensure that something is growing in the soils all year round. Weeds are controlled by disking, and the resulting mulch captures important moisture for the dry farmed vines. The open head pruned vines or "monkey claw" controls mildew problems. Like all of the vineyards grown and maintained by the Coturri's, no pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides are ever used on the Estate vineyard, and it is certified by the CCOF. In 1996, Tony and Phil Coturri earned top honors from the Sonoma Valley Ecology Center for Environmentally Friendly Business Practices with their viticultural farming and winemaking practices.

Chauvet Vineyards
Zinfandel
Sonoma Valley Appellation

The history: In the 1870's, Josiah Chauvet first planted grapes in Glen Ellen. He was one of the earliest and most prominent citizens of this small farming village. When visiting the town hub of Glen Ellen - check out the remaining brick shell of the old Hotel Chauvet, and the engraved stonework above the Jack London Saloon.

The Chavet Vineyards are located in the heart of the Valley of the Moon on Sonoma Highway 12. The historic vineyard is 10-acres of head pruned Zinfandel and divided into two sections, the East Block and West Block.

The Zinfandel in the East Block was planted in 1936 by the Canuccio family. Legend has it that a quarter stick of dynamite was used in each planting hole to loosen the soil. Robert and Blyth Carver are the proprietors of Chauvet Vineyards since 1972. The Carver family planted the West Block in 1976. In 1999, Phil Coturri replanted a portion of the West Block, and a harvest from these new vines is expected in 2001.

Like the Estate Vineyard, the Chauvet Vineyards are California Zinfandel clones on St. George rootstock, head pruned and dry farmed. As with all of the other vineyards that Phil Coturri maintains, the Chauvet Vineyards are farmed in an environmentally friendly manner for the Carver family.

Jewell Vineyards
Pinot Noir (16-acres)
Sonoma Mountain

Kate and Barry Roach, proprietors of Jewell Vineyards since 1990, have worked with Bob Cannard, noted soil conservationist and sustainable farmer, to produce the highest quality Pinot Noir grapes while creating the most environmentally sound of vineyards. The 16-acre vineyard is on the northeast shoulder of Sonoma Mountain at 700 feet elevation. The vines are 37 years old and are dry farmed. The clone selection is the famed Wente #13, and is on St. George rootstock. This clone is from old California selections that produce forward fruit, deep dark color, and firm ripe acids.

Bob Cannard is best known for the organic produce and greens that he supplies to Alice Waters famous Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley, CA. He recently took on corporations like the giant Monsanto and it's genetically modified plants and seeds, by organizing the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Ballot Initiative. (www.calrighttoknow.org)

Freiberg Vineyards
Zinfandel (4-acres) and Sangiovese (2-acres)
Sonoma Mountain

A well-regarded viticulturist named Joe Miami (vineyard manager for the Sonoma Valley Martini Monte Rossi Vineyards) originally planted this vineyard with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the 1970's. The owner, Myron Freiberg was one of the first grape growers to introduce natural growing techniques to the Sonoma Valley and northern California. Myron was way ahead of his time, concerned about chemical use and unhealthy farming practices long before it had become fashionable. In 1979, Myron challenged and inspired Phil Coturri to go entirely sustainable. After a number of great vintages it became apparent that while the quality was high the vineyard was in decline. In 1994, Phil Coturri replanted the vineyard to Zinfandel using the same Martini Monte Rosa clone that is on his P. Coturri Family Vineyard. The two acres of Sangiovese vines were added in 1997. Myron has since passed away and his son Jeff is the current owner.

Maclise Vineyards
Merlot
Sonoma Valley

Gay Maclise planted this 8 acres of Merlot in the Sobre Vista area of Sonoma Valley in 1993. Sobre Vista tucks up in the south side of Sonoma Mountain. It's relatively cool plus this vineyard is planted on the shores of a small lake that tempers the hot summers even more; a perfect place for Merlot.

Bruschera Vineyards
Zinfandel
Sonoma Valley

The Bruschera brother's vineyard is located in southeast Sonoma Valley and it was planted in 1995. The 1997 Zinfandel Bruschera Vineyards is the first harvest of a young vineyard. An interesting side note is that the bud wood for the Bruschera, the Estate bottled and the P. Coturri Family Vineyards came from the same source Martini's Monte Rosa Vineyards. This century year old clone manifests itself in dark, full-bodied wine. Even though this is the vineyards first harvest the wine comes across as quite complete and fruity without the harsh acids so common to young vines. This vineyard's grape tonnage should develop into between 400 and 500 cases in full production.

Views Land Vineyards
Zinfandel
Sonoma Valley

Walter Benson's Views Land Vineyard Zinfandel sits high in the Mayacamas Mountains east of the town of Sonoma. This vineyard is in the driest, hardest to reach area of Sonoma Valley; a perfect spot for Zinfandel.

Glover Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon (7 acres) and Merlot (1 1/2 acres)
Sonoma Valley

Owned by actor Danny Glover the vineyard is located in the Aqua Caliente watershed at 1,000-foot elevation on the Mayacamus Mountain hillside region. The Mayacamus area is usually too warm for Merlot, but there is a micro-climate within the Glover Vineyard that is cool enough to grow good Merlot and the rest of the acreage is warm enough for Cabernet Sauvignon.