Great Wine Starts in the Vineyard
At SoMa Cellars we source our grapes from some of the finest vineyards in California and Bordeaux. We choose our vineyards not only for their terroir – that magical melding of climate and geology, sun and soil – but also for the growers who employ the most rigorous viticultural techniques that allows us to produce the signature SoMa Cellars quality in our wines. Our current releases include wines made from the following vineyards:
Napa Valley Vineyards
Broken Rock
Napa Valley
The storied Broken Rock Vineyard lies just off Silverado Trail at the foot of Atlas Peak. Western exposure on the slope offers plenty of ripening afternoon sun, thus delivering the best of both worlds - brawny hillside muscle balanced by rich valley floor flavors of black of red fruit across the nose and palate.
Castellucci Vineyard
Spring Mountain District · Napa Valley
Castellucci is located on a steep, dramatic site on the top of Spring Mountain, near St. Helena in the Napa Valley. The site has been a vineyard since the 1800s and at one time was named Fern Rock Vineyard. The property has a natural spring that feeds its reservoir. The current vines were planted in 1993. The vines, which eke out just two tons per acre, cling to the hillside at this steeply terraced property. The nutrient-poor soils and high elevation result in archetypal mountain vines with deeply concentrated dense black and blue fruit on the nose and a palate of graceful complexity and refined tannins.
CLOS DU VAL/OAK VINEYARD
Stags Leap Vineyard
Located in the heart of Stags Leap District on Silverado Trail, Clos du Val is synonymous
with Stags Leap Cabernet. Our fruit is sourced from the same block as the famous CdV
Stags Leap bottling. Director of Vineyard Ops, Al Wagner, has been meticulously farming
these blocks for over 14 vintages and keeps yields in check by dropping and thinning when
appropriate to balance the fertility of the ground.
KONRAD VINEYARD
Mt. Veeder
Planted in 2002 and located atop the sandy hills of Mt. Veeder, Konrad Vineyard is
divided into 10 blocks and uses an advanced soil moisture sensor for irrigation. This is a huge advantage in working with mountain vineyards that have notoriously variable terrain. The result is extremely low yielding vines, creating dense concentrated fruit with fine tannins.
MELROSE VINEYARD
Napa Valley
Located on the northern edge of Rutherford, MelroseVineyard sits directly across the street from the beginning of the St. Helena AVA. Acquired by Beckstoffer in 1973, our block was replanted by renowned Viticulturist and Beckstoffer Head of Vineyard Operations, Dave Michul, in 2013 using the same techniques and farming practices utilized at the company’s famed Heritage properties (To Kalon, Las Piedras, Dr. Crane, Missouri Hopper and Georges III). Despite being situated at the northern end of Rutherford, Melrose reveals characteristics more often associated with Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. The heavier clay soils, result in a more nuanced, reserved interpretation of the grape with a lush blend of red and black fruits and optimum balance of acidity to tannin.
Morgaen Lee Vineyard
Yountville · Napa Valley
Nestled on the floor of the beautiful Yountville AVA, Morgaen Lee Vineyard thrives in the cool, crisp mornings breaking into warm, sunny afternoons allowing the Sauvignon Blanc grapes to flourish. Using a GDC trellising system, the grapes are largely spaced for optimal sun exposure and increased protection from frost. Planted to clone 14, this satiny, crisp and elegant wine is your classic Sauvignon Blanc with a finish reminiscent of what you find from New Zealand producers of the grape. The translation in bottle generally yields earthy flavors and mineral essence layered with tropical fruit, melon and a hint of grapefruit on the nose.
Ponti Road Vineyard
Rutherford · Napa Valley
Rutherford is the historical center of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Ponti Road is a classic Rutherford site situated on gravelly benchland between Conn Creek and the Silverado Trail. With only 2 acres, all planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, and only 836 vines per acre Ponti Road is dedicated to maintaining the highest quality fruit in Rutherford. Inky black in color with a lush fore palate, wines made from Ponti Road pick up weight in the mid-palate with refined tannins in the finish.
RUTHERFORD BENCH VINEYARD
Napa Valley
Since the 1800s, Rutherford has produced some of the world’s greatest Cabernet Sauvignon. Set in the afternoon shadows of the Mayacamas Mountains and sandwiched between Oakville and St. Helena, Rutherford is widely regarded as the sweet spot for Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley. The wines from this benchland site consistently deliver saturated berry-like flavors, silky tannins and an intriguing aromatic element often referred to as “Rutherford Dust.”
SIX ACRE VINEYARD
Oakville District
Located in the heart of Napa Valley, the Oakville District has given way to some of the most accomplished and acknowledged Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the world. The climate in Oakville is unique to other Napa Valley AVAs due to its mid-valley positioning; it is southern enough to attract morning fog from the San Pablo Bay, yet far north enough to bask in the warm afternoon sunlight. This six acre O’Shaughnessy Vineyard site on Oakville Cross Road produces low-yield/high-concentration fruit.
Stagecoach Vineyard
Atlas Peak · Napa Valley
The large 600-acre Stagecoach Vineyard climbs between 900 and 1700 feet up the southern face of Pritchard Hill to Atlas Peak in the Mayacamas Mountains bordering the east side of the Napa Valley. The site is planted to a wide range of varietals and rootstocks and features several distinct microclimates. We source our Cabernet from a small, steep block near the top of the site. This section is lower-yielding than most of the vineyard. Stagecoach is rich in history, rocks and perennial high-scoring wines. Slower ripening is typical in this area, resulting in haunting, dense, black fruit characteristics supported by sturdy mountain tannins.
Sonoma County Vineyards
Catie’s Corner Vineyard
Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Catie’s Corner is located in the middle to slightly northern section of Sonoma County’s famous Russian River Valley. Our small block of Viognier has a gently rolling profile with predominantly Huichica loam soil. One of the most important qualities about this site for Viognier is the consistent cycle of gentle warming and cooling each day, often the result of foggy mornings and evenings. This helps preserve the balance between attractive natural acidity and the opulent flavors typical of Viognier. This cycle of warming and cooling also leads to a lengthier period of ripening during which flavors and aromas can develop gradually and with greater depth and complexity. Wines from the vineyard offer pronounced citrus and floral characteristics balanced by vibrant acidity.
JIGSAW VINEYARD
Dry Creek
Jigsaw is terraced into the slopes of Bradford Mountain in Dry Creek Valley; ground zero for world-class Zinfandel. Myth and intrigue surround the vines at Fred Peterson’s property. Our block features the “Primitivo” clone, offering lively acidity and notes of dark cherry, pomegranate and graphite.
NOTRE VUE VINEYARD
Sonoma County
This certified sustainable 710-acre property uniquely spans three famed AVAs in Sonoma County – Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill. Here, the vine orientation, combination of alluvial and volcanic soils, and distinct microclimate allow the grapes to hang on vine for upwards of 10 extra days. The longer growing season brings additional depth and a slightly more nuanced tannin profile. The wines from this section are built around a core of bright berries, spice and briar patch.
California Vineyards
Heringer Estates Vineyard
Clarksburg
The Clarksburg AVA continues to draw attention for exceptional quality and difficult to find grape varieties. The moderately long growing season with good airflow from the Sacramento Delta is drawing attention from winemakers to the potential of Clarksburg. The Heringer family farms Mourvedre and Tempranillo specifically for our Rosé so we can dial in the ideal ripeness at which to pick for bright aromatics and razor-sharp acidity.
Bordeaux Vineyards
CABALEYRAN
HAUT-MÉDOC
This parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon vines is perfectly situated on the top of a gravel hill with a deep base of blue clay and limestone. Located just north of Saint-Estèphe, this vineyard is adjacent to those owned by Sociando Mallet.
COLETTE
Pomerol
This vineyard sits in the southern sector Pomerol’s famed plateau of ’Gunz-period gravel and clay soil. These 40 year-old Merlot vines are located in the sector that separates Château Beauregard from the Figeac sector of Saint-Émilion.
Demi-Lune
Saint-Estèphe
This vineyard is located on one of the highest points of Saint-Estèphe. It's soil consists of 3-4 meters of gravel before reaching a clay substrate and the limestone bedrock. These 20-year-old vines produce a Cabernet Sauvignon with significant power and structure reaffirmed by tight tannins. The resulting wine expresses itself through red fruit and spicy notes as well as significant precision in terms of length and "mouthfeel."
GRANDE CABANE
Margaux
These 30 year-old vines are located on a large plateau near the Gironde Estuary that extends
from Château Giscours through to the contiguous property of Château Dauzac, the owner
of this site. The high-density vineyard is planted in a sector predominated by a deep gravel
GRANDE CATÉLIE
Pauillac
This 2.5 acre parcel of 35-year-old vines rests on light, sandy gravel soil which forces the vineyard roots to dive deep for nutrients into the subsurface of clay and limestone. Near the village of Bages, this parcel adjoins parcels in the backyard of Pichon Longueville Baron and is located less than a kilometer from the front yard of Château Grand Puy Lacoste.
JUILLAC
Saint-Julien
Located in the village of Saint-Julien and within sight of the estuary, this 35 year-old vineyard is planted on a 4 metre deep layer of gravel, combined with clay and sand. This ensures exceptional drainage and maturation potential. The vineyards directly contiguous to Juillac belong to Château Léoville Las Cases and Château Léoville Poyferré. From this vineyard, you have an uninterrupted view of immediate neighbors Latour, Pichon Baron and Pichon Lalande.
LA CARRIERE
Saint-Émilion,
This south-facing vineyard sits near the top of the ridge just southeast of Saint-Émilion, right
within the triangle that separates Château Pavie from Larcis Ducasse and Troplong Mondot.
The 40 year-old vines are planted directly on the bedrock. Very little clay separates the vine
from the limestone, ensuring both concentration and intensity in the resulting wine.
La Pierre
Saint-Émilion · Merlot
This hilltop vineyard overlooks the entire valley of Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, one of the highest-quality sectors in Saint-Émilion. Planted directly on "calcaire sur asteries (friable limestone) with only 25 to 50 cm. of clay, the vines are forced to plunge deep for nutrients, ensuring small berries and fruit concentration. Its hilltop location endures strong winds and austere conditions throughout the growing season which provide freshness, acidity and complex tannins to the resulting wine. With its persistent tannins, the wine can be tight in its younger years. It ages beautifully, however, to reveal all of the best of Saint-Émilion Merlot.
LA PYRAMIDE
Saint-Émilion
La Pyramide lies just east of Saint-Émilion on the top of the appellation’s southern ridge in
an area dominated by well-known classified growths. The vines are planted directly on the
limestone bedrock (an ancient quarry is located right underneath) with very little clay acting
as a topsoil buffer. As a result, the vineyard is constantly in search of water, ensuring great
concentration.
LA ROSE
Saint-Émilion
These 40+ year-old vines sit on the north-western slope of Saint-Émilion, surrounded by two
Grand Cru Classé properties. This limestone plateau is covered by silt clay and iron oxide.
Labrie
Saint-Émilion · Cabernet Franc
The vineyard is situated on the plain of Saint-Émilion - with a terroir of predominantly sandy soil with a little gravel and a vein of "crasse de fer" (iron oxide) around a half meter underground, which provides depth and complexity. The forty-year-old vines are cropped very low, with four bunches to the vine. The resulting wine combines deep concentration with abundant fruit and the tannic backbone required to bolster the structure of any blend.
LE BARRAIL
Saint-Émilion
This parcel belongs to Château Mangot, located in the quality enclave of
Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse. Situated on the southern face of a typical Saint-Émilion
limestone slope (neighbors include Château Faugeres, Valandraud,
Rol Valentin and Fleur Cardinal), these 40-year-old vines on limestone-tolerant
41-B and Fercal rootstock produce concentrated, small berries.
Le Château
Canon-Fronsac · Merlot
This vineyard is located at the very top of the picturesque amphitheater of Canon-Fronsac, where the best properties of the appellation are located. This "bowl" benefits from ample sunshine and heat retention and is located in a sector where the friable limestone can be found just under a base layer of clay. These 50-year-old, low-yielding vines typically produce aromatic, dark ruby-colored wines with a solid tannin structure, emphasizing red currants and raspberry, which age wonderfully over time.
LE RUISSEAU
Côtes de Castillon
This 4.4 acre clay over limestone parcel of old vine is located a stone’s throw from the demarcation line separating the Saint-Émilion and Côtes de Castillon appellations. It has nothing to envy of its neighbor, sitting on the uppermost section of a south-facing slope with excellent drainage and perfect exposure to sunlight. Cropped to ensure low yields,the result is a Merlot that strongly emphasizes the fruit characteristics of nearby Saint-Émilion, yet with a combination of depth of fruit and more subtle tannins.
LES BUREAUX
Margaux
Overlooking Château Giscours at 19 meters above sea level, this vineyard is
one of the property’s historic parcels. This vineyard was planted in 1983 in a sector predominated by deep gravel substrate.
LES TERRASSES
Saint-Émilion
Just east of Saint-Émilion, beyond the water tower and adjoining property of Troplong Mondot, sits a beautiful, almost entirely enclosed terraced recess. The vineyards planted in this sector benefit from greater exposure to clay before hitting any bedrock. A natural microclimate is formed as well, creating an area less susceptible to winds and more likely to retain heat during the growing season.
L’EGLISE
Pomerol
This vineyard sits in the heart of Pomerol’s famed plateau of ‘Gunz-period’ gravel − ping pong ball sized stones − and clay soil. These 50 year-old Merlot wines are located right alongside the Pomerol village church, the symbolic center of the appellation.
L’ENCLOS
Pauillac
Belonging to the Cazes family (Chateau Lynch-Bages), this parcel sits within the confines of Cordeillan Bages, the “Relais & Château” hotel and two-star Michelin® restaurant located in Pauillac. This 26-year old parcel is planted on a sector of deep gravel and sand.
