The Vineyard

Roberts + Rogers planted the Howell Mountain Vineyard (about 17 ½ acres) adjacent to Las Posadas Road and other well known vineyards in the fall of 2000. The goal in planting the vineyard was to develop a site that would produce world class Bordeaux-styled Cabernet Sauvignon consistent with the terroir of Howell Mountain. The vineyard is planted predominately with Cabernet Sauvignon and additional plantings of Cabernet Franc and Merlot for blending purposes. There are approximately 1244 vines to the acre, or about 21,819 vines in total.
 
Las Posadas Forest, a property near our vineyard site, has an interesting history in California. Originally owned by the government, John N. Morris and his family established one of the earliest homesteads on the property in 1878. Morris during the time that he owned it shunned the planting of grapes during the grape boom of the 1880’s but planted berries and cleared redwood timber instead. Upon his death in January 1907, the property rights moved to Mrs. Anson Blake who in turn gave it back to the State of California in 1928. Most of the property today is still forest and a 4-H campsite.

Las Posadas Road Vineyard is made of primarily volcanic white powder tuffa soils which add a rich minerality to the wines. The vineyard generally receives sunlight for a longer period during the day because it is above the fog layer that typically comes into Napa Valley in the later afternoon. As a result of the vineyard elevation and sun exposure the temperatures are more consistent between day and night, extending the overall ripening period. This consistency aids the ability of our vineyard to produce quality grapes each vintage. The resulting wines are soft and elegant, with finesse reminiscent of wines from the Haut-Medoc.
 
Roberts + Rogers limits vineyard production each year so that the resulting fruit is ripe, concentrated, and flavorful. Howell Mountain itself produces intensely flavored fruit; Roberts + Rogers has created a wine true to the appellation and on par with the best wines of Howell Mountain.