Calcareous soil lends minerals
and structure to the grapes |
We believe strongly in the power of terroir, and in the quality of wines that allow their terroir to show through. All the grapes that go into Tablas Creek Vineyard wines are grown on the estate.
Our site was chosen after three years of intensive research. Our soils are composed of calcareous clay, similar to those which produce the great wines of the southern Rhone Valley. Our steep terraced slopes offer a variety of microclimates, soil depths and exposures. The altitude at Tablas varies between 1400' and 1600', and our proximity to the ocean provides an ideal climate. Hot days and cool summer nights create a long growing season and gracefully ripened fruit.
Closely spaced vines and low
yields lend intensity to the wines |
We plant our vines densely (1800 vines per acre) to encourage competition, we restrict yields (2.5-3.5 tons per acre), and we practice
organic viticulture.
Our goal is to produce
wines with a true expression of their varietal character and of the area in which they are grown: wines unique to their place.
Send in the Clones
We believe strongly that in order to make great grapes, you need the right vines. We imported our vines from Beaucastel, shepherded them through the 3-year USDA-mandated quarantine, and propagate them on our
on-site nursery. These clones were hand-selected for intensity of flavor and true varietal character. Some varietals had never been brought into the United States before, and we brought in new clones even of the varietals that existed here previously. You can
learn more about the varietals.
Stressed Grapevines Make Great Grapes
Our viticulture model is designed to produce grapes with concentration, intensity, and a true character of place. We densely plant the vines (1600 to 1800 per acre) to create competition, and trellis them low to the ground to take advantage of the radiant heat from the rocky soil. The competition between the plants, as well as the rugged terrain and limited water, creates intense small clusters of grapes with thick skins. Each vine is limited to 8-12 bunches each year.
Organic Vineyards
Our organic vineyard practices following the lead of the
Beaucastel estate in Chateauneuf du Pape. Like Beaucastel, we use no herbicides or systemic pesticides in the vineyard. Cover crops minimize erosion, host beneficial insects, and return nitrogen to the soil. We use extensive composting, and use compost tea to control mildew in the vineyard and reduce our need for sulfur. We received our
organic certification in January, 2003.
Work the Land by Hand
We prune and harvest by hand. The pruning is done both to promote the general health of the vine and to minimize crop load, and we regularly thin our crop to improve the quality of the fruit. All grapes are harvested by hand at optimum ripeness, and brought into our estate winery for
vinification.
