The Site
Soberanes sits in the middle of the Santa Lucia Highlands, adjacent to Garys’ Vineyard. The land is made from an eastward-facing alluvial terrace that gently slopes five degrees to the valley floor. A dry creek splits the vineyard into three distinct parcels, covering 38 acres of premium wine grapes. The upper section of Soberanes is dotted with oak trees, the middle half is directly connected to Garys’, and the lower block is rocky with a rolling hill.
The soils are Arroyo Seco Sandy Loam, which drains well and allows for great root penetration. Annual rainfall is 10-13 inches. The row direction is set to true north, which provides more uniform sun exposure throughout the day. Morning fog and cool, steady winds from the Monterey Bay establish a long and steady season for the vines.
Today the Garys’ and sons farm this site with diligence and a focus on quality. The vines are tended to each week by a talented and loyal team, whose experience is intangible. Yields are controlled to 3 tons per acre, managed by shoot thinning, fruit thinning, and is hand-harvested during the nighttime. This commitment to quality and investment in the team has been critical to producing premium wines.
Within the vineyard, 27 acres are planted to Pinot Noir while another 10 acres are committed to Chardonnay and Syrah. The Pinot Noir is nearly all of Pisoni clone, with just a small section of 667 clone. For Chardonnay, there is an abundance of Old Wente clones. The Syrah is Alban clone. Grapes are sold to a handful of high-end wineries, including the Franscioni’s ROAR and Pisoni’s Lucia.