Open: Year Round
In 1999, after careful planning and meticulous preparation, the first grapes were planted at Cache Creek Vineyards, which is located at the southern end of Clear Lake near the High Valley American Viticultural Area. "Poppo", his sons and his grandsons personally prepared the land for the vineyard. In 2003, Bill and Don, who manages the vineyard, began selling their fruit to wineries and grape brokers in Napa and Lake Counties, garnering a very favorable response. Assisted by Vineyard Consultant David Weiss of Bella Vista Farming Company and ranch foreman Francisco "Poncho" Medina, we focused on refining our farming practices to enhance grape quality and capture the essence of the land's rugged terrain. Today, 47 acres of the property are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and 11 each to Chardonnay and Petite Sirah, with a single acre of Syrah. The vines are planted in three distinct blocks with an east-west orientation at elevations ranging up to 1,300 feet.
Cache Creek enjoys a high Region III climate (based on the UC Davis Heat Summation Scale) with daytime temperatures during summer hovering between 90 and 95 degrees F. At night, breezes from nearby Clear Lake reduce temperatures to between 55 and 60 degrees F., a 35-degree swing that helps preserve acidity in the grapes.
