Priest Ranch Petite Sirah

In the Eastern Hills of the Vaca Mountains just above St Helena is where the Somerstons’s 1682 acre estate is located. 8 miles east of Rutherford and south of the prestigious Chiles Valley appellation, it is one of the smallest AVAs in the USA. This area has seen a rise in plantings due to its potential of growing at higher elevations. 200 out of 242 acres of Somerston’s plantings boast altitudes of 850 – 2400 ft - a real hidden gem!

The extensive hillside is a symbol and reflection of how farming has been conducted for decades in this area. Somerston was established by gold rush prospector James Joshua Priest and what originated as two historic estates became one, with Somerston Estate obtaining Priest Ranch in 2004. Although two distinct wine styles remained, their visions for the future were merged and their emphasis on sustainable farming became more central to their practices. Their concept is simple, they produce wine with a distinctive sense of their terroir, a balance of ‘people’ with the ‘land’. The vineyards of both Somerston and Priest ranch are 154 unique blocks, that reflect the soil in which the vines are planted. Somerston Estate showcases outstanding single block wines, to emphasise the unique properties of each microclimate.

Equally, they asses with each vintage which sites to take grapes from to create wine across designated blocks. Such a diverse range of soil can be seen, from alluvial fan which creates a nutrient-rich vibrancy lending depth of colour, taste and complexity to silty clay, which helps with water retention, very useful for hot/dry climates, and finally, fractured shale, which produces great aromatic quality in grapes as well as encouraging better length and finish of the wine. The diurnal range here is high, with warm afternoon temperatures and cool nights helping the grapes to ripen evenly. The grapes thus benefit from both increased sugar development, with cooler conditions preserving acidity and freshness, paving the way to a much livelier and complex wine!

Craig Becker uses his Artisanal winemaking approach and extensive knowledge in viticulture to create world-class wine across all sites. He has worked tirelessly to replant 240 blocks, with varieties that will thrive in specific microclimates their Estate has to offer.