Winemaking starts in the vineyards, and here we strive to manage the quality and flavor of the grapes so that they exhibit all the qualities and complexities we are looking for. Virtually all the Castle's vineyards are on hillsides as hillside quality is usually far superior to valley floor grapes. Due to the steep nature of the terrain our vineyards are primarily hand-farmed. To promote quality, vineyard yields are kept to an absolute minimum, averaging barely two and a half tons an acre, roughly 60% of most Napa Valley vineyards.; for the lower grape yield the more intensely flavored the berries are.

We use a “Sustainable” approach to managing vineyard pests and diseases in the vineyards. What this means is that we continually strive to minimize our “carbon footprint”, promote a complex vineyard environment with diverse habitat and species, and reduce any impact from farming on the local environment.

Small rodents (Gophers and moles) eat vine roots and can cause serious damage, even killing some vines. We totally eliminated any use of rodent poisons many years ago, and now only use mechanical traps to control the rodents. We also try to attract predatory birds to our vineyards by placing nesting boxes for owls and perches for raptors in the vineyards. This provides a desirable habitat for local predatory owls and hawks, reducing the need for rodent control even further. The owls find the boxes and move in to raise their young, and the hawks are always looking for a suitable “perch” to survey their hunting territory. Because the hawks hunt during the day and the owls hunt at night, together they provide a natural hunting pressure “24/7” on the rodents, which is very effective.

Features:
Cave Tours
Children welcome
Dog Friendly
Picnic Area
Wine Club
Meeting Space
Classes

Varietals as 2010:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Merlot
Pinot Grigio
Sangiovese
Pinot Blanc
Muscat/Moscato
Gewurztraminer
Late Harvest
Sauvignon Blanc

Appellation:
Diamond Mountain