The Vineyards

With a grape-growing history dating back 140 years, the relatively small and compact Dry Creek Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) includes more than 9,000 vineyard acres and over 60 wineries, one deli, and no stoplights in an area only 16 miles long and two miles wide. Best known for its Zinfandel wines, this rural wine region is located in north-central Sonoma County, just outside the city of Healdsburg, and a short drive south from small town Cloverdale. The valley is only 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean, bookended by the Russian River to the south and Lake Sonoma to the north. A century ago, this was a rural backwater with just about nothing but family-owned prune farms and a handful of vineyards. Today the region produces world class zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon and other varietals.

Consisting of 5 acres of Zinfandel and 1 acre of Petite Sirah, our beautiful Estate vines were planted in 2000 by the late Ulises Valdez – acclaimed and beloved Sonoma County grape grower. He graciously shared and planted our Zinfandel vines with cuttings from the magical St. Peter’s Church Vineyard. We are truly honored to be a part of the history of Ulises’ dedication and generosity to the wine industry. In recent years, the vineyard is farmed by our own Juan Soriano and the team at Patin Vineyard Management.

Located adjacent to CAST Wines, the Watson vineyard was planted in the early 1970’s by Allan and Patricia Watson. The Watson’s purchased this 25 acres to serve as their retirement from San Francisco where Allan was an executive at investment firm Hambrecht & Quist. Six acres are planted entirely to Zinfandel which has been the source of CAST Wines’ Old Vine Zinfandel since 2012. At roughly 30 years older than CAST’s estate vineyard, these vines offer a terrific comparison and testament to the impact of time on grape quality.

Owner and Farmer Gary Schreyer gravitated to northern California and planted this xx acre vineyard in 19xx. A successful investment professional, Gary and his wife Pam were drawn to the beauty of our valley and particularly to this fantastic vineyard site on the eastern slopes of the valley up along Mill Creek. CAST sources Cabernet Sauvignon from this vineyard which produces distinct dark fruit flavors and balanced chemistry.

The Russian River Valley AVA does not strictly outline the path of the Russian River, which flows from Mendocino County south-by-southeast through Alexander Valley, makes an abrupt left at Healdsburg, and cuts west through rugged terrain to the Pacific Ocean. Rather like a heart in its shape, roughly 15 miles wide and tall, the AVA occupies a ‘sweet spot’ that’s cool, but not too cold. In the growing season, warm daytime temperatures plummet at night when fog regularly intrudes from the Petaluma Gap to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The northern border marks the point where the fog frequently sticks around a while longer in the morning, while Alexander Valley is already heating up.

The Bacigalupi’s gained recognition as growers during the 1976 Paris tasting when the 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay from Château Montelena with Bacigalupi fruit triumphed over many acclaimed French wines to be declared the undisputed winner. This event was to be the turning point in America’s global wine image. That same block of Chardonnay used to produce this worldly renowned wine is still in existence today and carefully tended by the family. With 65 years of experience in the grape growing and wine industry the family is also known for sourcing fruit to some of Sonoma and Napa’s most sought after names. With now 3 generations involved and winemaker Ashley Hertzberg leading the winemaking endeavor the family showcases wines under their own label at their tasting room on Westside Road just outside Healdsburg.

DeBenedetti Vineyard lies within the Russian River Valley AVA, where cool marine air and morning fog drift inland from the Pacific Ocean, creating ideal conditions for Chardonnay. The vineyard’s moderate climate allows for a long, even ripening season, producing fruit with remarkable balance and complexity. At this site, Chardonnay develops bright citrus and orchard fruit aromas layered with subtle minerality and texture. DeBenedetti’s cool microclimate brings out a distinct richness and depth, yielding wines that beautifully reflect the elegance and character of the Russian River Valley.

A place of abundant natural beauty, Lynmar Estate borders the western edge of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, the largest tributary of the Russian River, and Sonoma County’s richest wildlife preserve. Situated just 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Lynmar Estate benefits from the influences of a maritime climate. The ebb and flow of warm days and cool evenings create an ideal climate for cultivating Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Stewardship and Sustainability, core values at Lynmar, are evident everywhere you look. Along with our grapes, our flowers, herbs, orchards, and farm gardens are carefully tended by hand and provide precious habitat for bees and other beneficial insects, butterflies and birds. Carbon negative, we are powered by the sun, practice regenerative agriculture and invest in our employees, neighbors and the community. Quail Hill Vineyard is the heart of Lynmar, with 17 distinct blocks planted with 14 Pinot Noir and 4 Chardonnay…

Named after an enterprising pioneer by the name of Cyrus Alexander, the Alexander Valley was considered a better place to grow wheat and raise cattle before it gained fame for its grapes. In the 1880s, immigrants formed the Italian Swiss Colony agricultural cooperative at Asti. In the 1950s, the winery was California’s second-most visited tourism destination, after Disneyland. The 1960s and 1970s established Alexander Valley as a place where top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon could be grown. Today, the valley retains its sleepy, agricultural character, while comprising 15,000 vineyard acres and 42 wineries. The AVA was established in 1984 and today houses noted wineries including Silver Oak and Jordan Estate.

The Ghianda Rose Vineyard lies in the cool northern reaches of Mendocino County, where coastal fog and river breezes create the ideal conditions for vibrant, aromatic fruit. Farmed with biodynamic principles, the vineyard is surrounded by redwood forests and nurtured through regenerative practices that emphasize soil health and balance. Its sandy-gravel loam soils, rich with alluvial deposits, lend purity and minerality to the wines while allowing the vines to thrive with minimal intervention. Fruit from Ghianda Rose expresses beautiful clarity and texture — notes of white peach, citrus blossom, and wet stone layered with a bright, lively acidity. This Mendocino site brings an elegant contrast to our Dry Creek Valley estate fruit, adding depth and regional character to CAST’s portfolio.

Cox Vineyard, perched north of Ukiah in Mendocino County, is a historic, organically farmed site with vines dating back to as early as 1956. The vineyard sits on gentle hills of rocky clay and red volcanic soils that naturally stress the vines, producing expressive and concentrated fruit. Certified organic under CCOF, Cox Vineyard is owned and operated by the Cox family, now in their eighth generation of farming. For our Blanc de Blancs, we source 100% Chardonnay from this exceptional site, resulting in a sparkling wine with elegant aromatics of white peach, honeysuckle, and lemon zest, layered with subtle hints of brioche and hazelnut. Bright acidity and a clean, graceful finish reflect both the vineyard’s character and Mendocino’s cool-climate influence.

The Mendocino County AVA is one of California’s most diverse and sustainably farmed wine regions, celebrated for its cool coastal influences and rugged natural beauty. Framed by redwood forests and the Pacific Ocean, the area experiences warm, sunny days balanced by fog-filled mornings and cool evenings — ideal conditions for preserving freshness and aromatic intensity in white varietals like Sauvignon Blanc. The region’s patchwork of microclimates and well-draining gravelly loam soils produce fruit with vibrant acidity, expressive citrus and tropical notes, and a clean mineral finish. Mendocino’s long-standing commitment to organic and sustainable farming practices makes it a natural partner for CAST, allowing us to craft Sauvignon Blancs that are both bright and beautifully balanced, reflecting the purity and character of this coastal terroir. Our Riesling is sourced from select vineyards along the Sonoma Coast, where cool marine air and fog from the Pacific Ocean shape a long, slow ripening…

Broken Leg Vineyard is a dramatic, high-elevation site tucked into the steep hillsides of Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. Named for its rugged terrain (and the story of the original owner who quite literally broke his leg tending the vines), this remote vineyard sits above the fog line at nearly 1,200 feet, where cool coastal breezes and diurnal temperature swings create ideal conditions for Syrah. The rocky, well-drained shale and sandstone soils naturally limit yields, resulting in small, intensely flavored berries that showcase both power and finesse. The Anderson Valley AVA is known for its cool-climate elegance and purity of fruit, producing wines with vibrant aromatics, balanced acidity, and remarkable structure. From this exceptional site, our Syrah displays deep color, concentrated dark fruit, and savory undertones of olive, pepper, and smoked herbs — a reflection of the vineyard’s wild beauty and coastal mountain character.