VARIETALS
80% Montepulciano 20% Trebbiano

NOTES

VINEYARD: Fox Hill Vineyard is one of the most unique vineyards in California today. What makes the 60-acre vineyard so special is the 25 Italian grape varieties that call it home. It is very rare to find such a wide variety in one place anywhere in Northern California! Fox Hill is the Italian oasis it is today because of long-time owner Lowell Stone. In the 1980s, Lowell ripped up Chardonnay and Riesling vines to plant suitcase vine cuttings brought back from Italy. His vision defied conventions of the time to plant varieties he passionately loved – and loved to drink.
Chris Brockway has helped farm Fox Hill since 2020, supporting the early work of Sam Bilbro (Idlewild), who was joined by Evan Lewandowski, to help Lowell farm for more than a decade. The vineyard is organically farmed and uses cover crop as an important tool in its farming practices: from enriching soil health with necessary nutrients, boosting water retention, weed control, and supporting overall vine growth. In the spring, sheep graze among the vines, managing the crop cover and fertilizing the soil. The soil is predominantly mineral-driven redvine, river rock, and pebbly sandstone, with large quartz pieces that are easy to trip over when weaving between the vines. Fox Hill is nestled on the Talmage Bench, an uplifted former riverbed from the Russian River. Bunches of pennyroyal are found scattered among the 20+ year-old vines.

VINIFICATION: The Montepulciano and Trebbiano were harvested on the same day, field blend style, then they were co-fermented in stainless steel tank with the Trebbiano whole cluster and the Montepulciano half destemmed and half whole cluster. Once pressed, the wine was then aged in concrete tank.