Fort Ross Vineyard

Dedicated Farming, Masterful Winemaking, Profound Wines

FORT ROSS VINEYARD is a necklace of 32 small mountain blocks that cling to the top of a steep coastal ridge on the wild Sonoma Coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean, which lies only 1 mile west. It was developed and planted by owners, Lester and Linda Schwartz and their small crew, over a period of sixteen years commencing in 1994. We strive to produce wines of purity and elegance that reflect the cool maritime climate and the challenging site through minimal winemaking intervention and micro-farming practices. The wines are produced from grapes grown only on this single vineyard with winemaker, Jeff Pisoni at the helm.

VISION: Inspired by the majesty of the wild Sonoma Coast we devotedly farm the steep and rugged ridges of our family estate vineyard to masterfully craft profound, cool climate wines.

WINEMAKER, JEFF PISONI - Since 2009: The gifted winemaker of Pisoni Vineyards is known for his extraordinary wines produced from the family’s estate property. According to Jeff. “I tasted Fort Ross and was struck by the luscious fruit, fine minerality, crisp acidity and the character of the vineyard in each wine. My goal is to express the personality of the vineyard and the wonderful style the winery has worked so hard to establish over the last decade.”

FORT ROSS-SEAVIEW AVA: In January 2012, after a 13 year process, the AVA (27,000 acres) was approved, establishing this small region as separate and distinct. The boundaries are based upon proximity to the Pacific Ocean, elevation (920-1,800), steep slopes, cool climate and sedimentary soil types. The limited wines produced from grapes grown in this AVA reflect the unique terroir with elegance, fine structure, seamless balance and vibrant fruit. There are approximately17 growers within the AVA, including other such fine vineyards as Flowers, Martinelli and Wayfarer (Pahlmeyer).

COOL COASTAL CLIMATE: During the growing season, the vineyard is tempered by the influence of the fog on the coast below. Temperatures rarely drop below 50ºF or rise above 85ºF, the range in which grape vines are physiologically active. At night the ocean fog can roll up and over the vineyard only to recede back down with the morning sun. The grapes slowly and evenly ripen to produce a palette of intense, complex flavors. The high skin to juice ratio of the tiny berries and the low yields of 1 – 2 tons per acre contribute to the concentration of flavors with lively acidity and fine minerality.

CERTIFIED CALIFORNIA SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING: Detailed prevention defines our holistic farming practices. We microscopically inspect the leaves, shoots and growing clusters with a jeweler’s magnifying loop to find any hints of potential problems. Careful vigilance is substituted in place of actions that can disturb the balance of nature. Rainwater is captured in the large pond then used for irrigation and any runoff is filtered through lower level silt ponds before entering natural streams.

TASTING ROOM: It is the only Tasting Room in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA and sits 7.6 miles north of Jenner perched above the trees overlooking the Pacific. The vision was to respect the environment and look as if it rose out of the surrounding forest with a beautiful deck that overlooks the Pacific Ocean beyond. It was thoughtfully constructed according to U.S. Green Building Council Specifications.