Estate Grown
The grapes for our Andover Estate wines are grown on estate-owned vineyards in the cool, rocky Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County. Arroyo Seco means “dry riverbed” and the appellation is characterized by soil that is strewn with palm-sized river stones that were deposited thousands of years ago by the Arroyo Seco River. These large rocks retain warmth during the day and then radiate it back onto the vines after the sun sets.
With cool morning fogs that unfold into warm days and breezy afternoons, ripening of the grapes takes time and this region is known for having an exceptionally long growing season. It is well worth the wait for with slow maturation comes intense flavor development, heightened varietal character and lively acidity. Each year we produce limited bottlings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from this special, rocky place.
