Vineyards

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Damian Rae wines have their origins in some of Earth's finest terroir, including these superior California vineyards:

• Carrefour, Napa Valley (Napa Valley APA)
  Carrefour is located in Coombsville, an area that has developed a well-deserved reputation for growing cooler climate Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley. The moderate temperatures lengthen the growing season to produce wines with evolved tannins and the well-integrated classic herbaciousness notes associated with Cabernet. The 18-acre site is primarily planted to clone 337 and features well-drained volcanic soils.
• Godspeed, Napa Valley (Mount Veeder)
  At an elevation of some 1500 feet, near the top of Mount Veeder, sits Godspeed Vineyard. Planted primarily to Cabernet and Chardonnay, this 22-acre vineyard has steep slopes, weak soils and excellent sun exposure to create small, intense berries with lots of mountain tannins. The vines are mostly clone 8 (with some 338), planted on 110R and healthy (non-phylloxera) AXR-1 rootstock. To manage the tannins, we have the vineyard team make extra passes to remove less ripe fruit and tend to let clusters hang a bit longer than typical. This results in solidly structured and intense fruit-driven wines that will be among the longest lived that we make.
• Ink Grade, Napa Valley (Howell Mountain)
  Ink Grade was planted in 1990 and spans 200 acres of mountainous terrain. Much of the vineyard is beautifully terraced and it is all well-tended. The vineyard is actually planted to a quad trellis that ekes out about two to 2.5 tons per acre. This is also one of the more technologically advanced sites, using "stress modules" to determine ripening and enables us to do multiple picks for optimal ripeness.
• Rafael, Napa Valley (Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA)
  Rafael Vineyard is a sloping hillside property in Oak Knoll. Being in the southern part of the valley, the temperatures are moderated by the weather patterns coming off San Pablo Bay. These cooling breezes and morning fogs help the grapes retain assertive acids that warmer growing spots can't match. The vines at Rafael are planted in porous sands and gravel, which forces the roots to work deep into the ground in search of water. This natural devigoration helps produce smaller berries with balanced concentrations of tannins and acidity.

• La Encantada (Santa Rita Hills)
  Located on the cooler side of Santa Rita Hills, La Encantada is a certified organic site planted in 2001 by Richard Sanford - the "godfather" of Santa Ynez pinot. The vineyard is on a ridge which straddles the Santa Ynez River Valley and is open to the full impact of the cooling afternoon maritime breezes. Yields are just two tons per acre, but the resulting wine is sublime: smooth, with hints of dark cherry, earth and spice.

• White Hawk (Santa Barbara)
  This impressive Santa Barbara vineyard is 21 miles west of the Pacific and two miles north of Los Alamos. With slopes of 15% to 45%, it's planted at 900 feet elevation on pure sand that immediately drains off water and nutrients and forces the vines to work extra-hard to survive. Ten-foot vine rows are the norm at White Hawk in order to minimize the hazards associated with driving tractors along steep, sandy contours. A strong core of acidity is complemented by elements of meat and blackberries. The yields are miniscule, and the berries intense.

• Galleron Road (Rutherford)
  As in Bordeaux, sauvignon blanc tends to do extremely well where cabernet grows. And Rutherford produces some mighty fine cabernet. Crisp citrus, grapefruit and lemon-lime combined with minerality and a hint of herbalness make sauvignon blanc a great warm weather wine.