C. 1999
Sitting at 2,642 feet elevation atop Cold Spring Mountain in the Mendocino Ridge AVA, Signal Ridge Vineyard began with a well-informed, but unproven belief that planting on this challenging ridge-top had the potential to produce wines that rival the best in the world.
The site’s extreme altitude naturally cools the vineyard from the constant sunshine that is found above the fog line. Soils are a diverse mix of fractured mudstone, sandstone, and marine sediment. The vineyard is planted
to six different clonal selections of Pinot Noir; 2A, 777, 828, 115, Pommard, and Swan. Four additional acres of California heritage clone Chardonnay were grafted in 2020.
FARMING
Signal Ridge Vineyard is divided into multiple blocks of tightly planted rows on steep grades. These blocks contain 8 different selections of Pinot Noir and 4 different selections of Chardonnay. All are planted to low yielding California “Heritage” selections such as Swan, Hyde and Wente. Meticulous, block-specific organic farming allows for the production of compelling, distinctive, soil driven wine.
Lead by vineyard manager and expert farmer, Nacho Flores, the dedicated team at Signal Ridge manages the vineyard with loving vigilance and a commitment to excellence.
winemaking
Signal Ridge Vineyard’s diverse soils, exposures, and selections come together to produce some of the most mineral-driven and exotic wines in the New World. A classical, old-world winemaking philosophy is at the heart of all decisions made in the cellar. With a focus on preserving the vineyards inherent quality, all wines are produced with only natively present yeasts and with no additions or additives.
Production is often limited due to the high variability in yields of the sites extreme terroir.