In 1914 our great-grandparents purchased land about a mile east of Occidental in Sonoma County, California. After clearing the ridge tops of brush and stumps left from the redwood harvest the previous century, the ridges were planted to 40 acres of Gravenstein apples and 70 acres of Royal Anne cherries. Those orchards have since withered and have been removed. One of those areas, a rolling ridge with a southern aspect and spectacular views of the hills beyond has been planted with blocks of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Syrah. Occidental Road Cellars sources its fruit exclusively from those blocks. We are proud to be the fourth generation to farm this land.
The moderate climate of the Russian River Valley is renowned for producing fruit with mature flavors and exceptional depth and balance. It is ideally suited for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and has become known for producing memorable Zinfandel and Syrah. The cooler, coastal climate offers a more fruit-forward flavor with less bitter tannins. Our goal is to grow and produce the finest ultra-premium wines in these varietals. Our handcrafted wines will only be produced in small lots with detailed care to optimize the fruit’s potential.
