Dierberg Estate Vineyards
The Central Coast's cool-weather terroir is exemplified at the two estate vineyards that provide Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for Dierberg Estate: the original Dierberg Vineyard in Santa Maria - planted in 1997 - and the newer Drum Canyon vineyard located farther to the south in the Santa Rita Hills. In both vineyards, cooling Pacific Ocean fog and breezes keep this sunny corner of California far cooler than one would imagine. This phenomenon favors crisp acidity and gentle ripening in classic Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.
Dierberg's 160-acre vineyard outside the town of Santa Maria, and just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean, is planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It lies at the southern end of the Santa Maria Valley and is graced with gentle hillside slopes, sandy loam soils and western exposures. About one third of the vineyard is planted to Chardonnay, with the rest planted to Pinot Noir.
Farther south, and almost at the very edge of the ocean, the Santa Rita Hills offer a chillier and much windier environment than Santa Maria. Looking for the kind of marginal environment that can deliver big pay-offs in flavor, Dierberg has planted a new vineyard in Drum Canyon. In addition to the wind and cold, steeper slopes and a higher elevation are key factors that affect the ripening of the six clones of Pinot Noir planted here among 70 pristine acres. Conditions are challenging, but the rewards - in terms of complexity and structure in the wine - could be great. But we won't know for sure for a few years. The vineyard was planted in 2005 and will see its first harvest this fall.
An ideal combination of climate, soil and clonal material results in truly distinctive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. This is our quest at Dierberg Estate. With great attention to detail, planting and farming techniques (mostly Old World-inspired) have contributed to the growing reputation of our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
The Central Coast's cool-weather terroir is exemplified at the two estate vineyards that provide Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for Dierberg Estate: the original Dierberg Vineyard in Santa Maria - planted in 1997 - and the newer Drum Canyon vineyard located farther to the south in the Santa Rita Hills. In both vineyards, cooling Pacific Ocean fog and breezes keep this sunny corner of California far cooler than one would imagine. This phenomenon favors crisp acidity and gentle ripening in classic Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.
Dierberg's 160-acre vineyard outside the town of Santa Maria, and just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean, is planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It lies at the southern end of the Santa Maria Valley and is graced with gentle hillside slopes, sandy loam soils and western exposures. About one third of the vineyard is planted to Chardonnay, with the rest planted to Pinot Noir.Farther south, and almost at the very edge of the ocean, the Santa Rita Hills offer a chillier and much windier environment than Santa Maria. Looking for the kind of marginal environment that can deliver big pay-offs in flavor, Dierberg has planted a new vineyard in Drum Canyon. In addition to the wind and cold, steeper slopes and a higher elevation are key factors that affect the ripening of the six clones of Pinot Noir planted here among 70 pristine acres. Conditions are challenging, but the rewards - in terms of complexity and structure in the wine - could be great. But we won't know for sure for a few years. The vineyard was planted in 2005 and will see its first harvest this fall.An ideal combination of climate, soil and clonal material results in truly distinctive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. This is our quest at Dierberg Estate. With great attention to detail, planting and farming techniques (mostly Old World-inspired) have contributed to the growing reputation of our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.