Saralee’s Vineyard and Richard’s Grove
Rich and Saralee Kunde offer the largest collection of varietals in the Russian River appellation. They proudly offer fruit from over 75 clones, of 16 wine, and 17 table grape varietals on six separate vineyard sites in Sonoma County. The vineyards comprise over 500 acres. The diverse collection of high-quality varietals is meticulously planted, cultivated, harvested, and data tracked year after year.
The crew that works the vineyards is hired year round providing some of the most impressively tended vineyards in this country. The attention to detail means that winemakers can trace the worldwide origins of vines to their mother varietals for both scion wood and rootstock variety. Detailed vine identification maps for each vine in the entire operation indicate all varietals, clones, and rootstocks, linking them to specific individual mother vines at UC Davis Foundation Blocks, thus helping vintners to make varietal selections and clonal blends. Many parts of Richard's Grove and Saralee's Vineyard meet international standards for world-wide shipment of propagation wood and is home to the world's largest rootstock test block. 2007 marks the 18th harvest for Richard and Saralee as growers, but their involvement with wine and vineyards goes back much longer. The Kunde’s initially built their reputation for excellence years before in the area of horticulture, providing vines from the nursery they operated to most of the wineries in the Russian River.
Lost Canyon is excited to include three of Richard’s Grove & Saralee’s Vineyards in our line of wines. They include: Saralee’s Vineyard, Trenton Station, and Catie’s Corner. All of the vineyards are located with three miles of the Russian River along River Road and near the Sonoma County Airport.
Climate:
The Russian River Valley climate is controlled by the regular incursion of the cool fog off of the Pacific Ocean only a few miles to the west. The evening fog rushes through the Petaluma Wind Gap and the valley carved through the coastal range by the Russian River. The fog usually arrives at the end most days. The resultant drop in temperature of 35 to 40 degrees at night provides natural air-conditioning allowing the grapes an extended growing season often 15 to 20 percent longer than neighboring areas. The effects on the wines from the area are to develop full flavor maturity while retaining the all-important natural acidity frequently missing from hot climate wines.
Saralee's Vineyard
Set against a background of stately ancient oaks, Richard and Saralee selected the 275-acre site for its qualities of cool climate, famous soil and gentle hills. The first Saralee's Vineyard was planted in 1989. Over the years they continued to acquire new land and plant new vineyards. Of the 275 acres planted, 50 were dedicated to Pinot Noir. Our Pinot Block was planted in 1997.
The vineyard is situated along the Russian River Valley. The geologic history of the Valley is both turbulent and continuing due to the volcanic and seismic nature of the area. The river’s current course flows within 2 miles of the vineyard. Continual uplifting resulted in the Russian River changing course, cutting a path down the valley and across what are now the coastal hills, leaving deep deposits of alluvial gravel, sand and clay in terraces along the course of the river. The soils are typically very well drained. The vineyard lying within the center of the alluvial plain possesses deep rich soil and ample water that makes for contented vines. The soil composition is a sandy- clay- loam that matches well with Pinot Noir vines. The vineyard has a Northern/Southern exposure and is at 150 ft. above sea level. The trellis system used is VSP and Quadrilateral. Our grapes are a combination of Dijon clones 115 and 777. Saralee’s roster of customers is a who’s who of winemaking in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma County.
Catie's Corner
This is another Saralee Kunde vineyard and is named after her daughter, Catherine Elizabeth "Catie" Kunde. The vineyard was first planted in 1988. The rootstock was budded to Viognier in 1995. The vineyard is planted in 9.3 acres of 01 Condrieu clone. In 2005 Lost Canyon Winery produced our first premium wine from this vineyard. We were so excited with the results that we are increasing our production for the 2006 season.
Trenton Station
We are excited to announce that we have added the Trenton Station Vineyard from Saralee’s Vineyards, to our list of outstanding vineyards. Trenton Station is Saralee’s newest endeavor. The vineyard is 46.5 acres in size with plantings of Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Viognier, Zinfandel, and Syrah. We will be making a vineyard designated Syrah from this vineyard that promises to bring long hang times and intense flavors from this Russian River hillside location. Our first harvest from Trenton Station was October with release of this wine scheduled for Spring 2005.
