Gravel Ridge Vineyard

Gravel Ridge is a five-acre Cooper-Garrod estate vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, planted to Chardonnay in 1979-81.

Location and Terroir

The vineyard is located on the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz mountains, overlooking the Santa Clara Valley. It sits at approximately 900 feet elevation on a 35-40 degree east-facing slope.

History

The vines were planted predominantly on AxR rootstock which required replacement in the mid-1990s. The vineyard has since been updated with new spacing and pruning methods. In 2017, an acre of vines was removed, the field left fallow for a year with soybeans planted to replenish nutrients. In May 2020, an acre of Petit Verdot was grafted in.

Farming Practices

Like all other Cooper-Garrod vineyards, Gravel Ridge is:

• Certified organic
• Unirrigated (dry-farmed)
• Naturally stressed vines for concentration

Wines

Cooper-Garrod produces Chardonnay wines under their label from this dry-farmed vineyard. Recent bottlings offer butterscotch and lemon aromas on the rich nose.

Details

• Region: Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
• Size: 5 acres (4 acres Chardonnay, 1 acre Petit Verdot as of 2020)
• Planted: 1979-81
• Elevation: ~900 feet
• Aspect: East-facing, 35-40 degree slope
• Farming: Certified organic, dry-farmed
• Producer: Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards