The 30-acre Newell Vineyards are located in Lockwood, California - a region of southern Monterey County renowned for its ideal wine producing climate and terrain.
The soil on our property is a rich sandy loam infused with scattered shale rock for excellent vine support and drainage. Of course, even the best soil conditions are meaningless without the right climate, which is why we consider Newell Vineyards to be twice blessed. Here, the temperature can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, then drop dramatically to 45 degrees at night - conditions which produce intense varietal character in grapes that are naturally allowed to achieve peak ripeness and deep coloring. Our region's morning fog and 9-12 inch annual rainfall are also key factors in the excellent quality of our fruit.
Jay Newell's landscaping expertise and love for the land enabled him to work closely with top consultants from Napa Valley, determining the varieties best suited to the family's acreage. By incorporating such innovative farming techniques as shoot thinning, crop thinning (to 2 - 3 tons per acre), controlled irrigation and state-of-the-art trellising systems that allow optimum sunlight penetration, we have enhanced the excellence of every grape we grow.
Each vine is carefully managed and limited to only 25 clusters for maximum quality. The fruit is generally dropped twice a year, but sometimes more often depending on seasonal conditions. To ensure the optimum quality and stability of each grape, we harvest between midnight and 4am. Additionally, we are committed to farming practices that are as close to organic as possible, using chemicals only when absolutely necessary and planting a cover crop of existing native species from the estate property.
