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EnglandCrest Vineyard
Sonoma Valley
When I leased the winery building at the EnglandCrest vineyard in Glen Ellen, I wanted to be able to make a small amount of wine from the vines around the winery. After all, this was a prime area of Sonoma Valley and the neighbors were Pagani Ranch, Wellington Vineyards and Kunde Vineyards, all vineyards planted more than 100 years ago. At the time the fruit was under contract with Wellington Vineyards. Fortunately, Peter Wellington and I have an excellent relationship forged over the 6 years I had worked at Wellington and we soon arrived at deal with Bruce and Judy England so I could take some of the grapes.
It’s a fascinating vineyard, much longer than it is wide with the 5 acres of vines encompassing 4 different soil types. Although surrounded by vineyards that date back 100 years, this property had not been planted before Bruce and Judy England put in vines beginning in 2000. Its Syrah vines are grafted on rootstocks to match the soils, and each is farmed separately. The rockiest soils are the first to ripen, usually at the end of September, and its tiny berries give a very structured wine with lots of tannins. Its wine provides the backbone for the Syrah made from this property. From the well drained, more fertile soils right next to the winery, the grapes are picked about 2 weeks later in mid October and the wine is a little softer and richer and has been the main component in the 2006 and 2007 Reserve Syrah wines. From the wet clay soils in front of the winery the ripening is delayed until late in October and the water filled berries are used to make a delightful dry Rose of Syrah. Finally, drier soils at the front of the property lead to quite concentrated fruit and this has been used for the base for a Port style wine also made from Syrah.
