Hertelendy Vineyards sources its fruit, not just from our mountainous 4+ acre Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA “Rockwell Ridge” estate vineyard (planted in 1993 just 35 ft below the Howell Mountain AVA demarcation line. SEE MAP), but also from ultra premium volcanic sites around the Napa Valley including areas like Atlas Peak, Pritchard Hill, Howell Mountain, Oakville, and Coombsville. Specializing in all five Bordeaux varietals, the majority of Hertelendy’s red vitis vinifera grapes come from tuffaceous rocky soil that is located on the steep, western facing Vaca Mountain slope (with Oakville being the exception). These slopes have volcanic ash, red clay, and granite-like sub soil, getting the best of both worlds: mountainside structure and rich flavors from the valley floor. These hillside locations, blessed with low fertility soil, consistently produce wines of unusual intensity and concentration. The rocky terrain provides excellent drainage and naturally stresses the vines, producing wines of character, complexity, and elegance. We also source some of the most ultra-premium Pinot Noir (from Sun Chase Vineyard) and Old Wente Clone Chardonnay (from fifty year old vines at Woolsey Road Vineyard) planted on world famous Gold Ridge Sandy Loam top-soils in the Russian River Valley.

Seven years in the making, Ralph Hertelendy teamed up with Steve Burgess and together, they created Napa Valley’s newest (17th) viticultural area, Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA. Filling in the gap between St. Helena, Calistoga, and Howell Mountain (400-1400 feet), it’s 1000 feet of excellence and is Napa Valley’s only all hillside AVA. Crystal Springs AVA is above the frost and below the inversion layer allowing for cool nights and very warm days. Additionally, having a western facing slope, we receive an additional couple hours of afternoon sunshine as the sun faces us as it sets. This means that our fruit always reaches ideal ripeness, and combined with our volcanic terroir, our vines produce intense phenolics, complexity, and character that’s distinctive ultra premium quality.

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