Madrone Ridge's vineyards sit on a sunny 5 acre hillside on the slopes on Arrowhead Mountain. Planted in 1997-1998, the vineyards nestle among the Mayacamas mountains, a low range separating Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
Legendary viticulturist John Caldwell consulted through all phases of vineyard construction. John pioneered the use of Madrone Ridgeâ??s French clone rootstock.
The Zinfandel vines were field grafted using budwood from 100 year old vines from the Sacramento River Delta. Protected by sandy soil, the vines escaped the phylloxera infestations that ruined other vineyards over the last century.
Because of Madrone Ridge's thin soil, vines were planted using high density methods (1700 plants per acre). The crop is thinned to limit yield to under 21/2 tons per acre.
While on the vine, grapes are tested frequently so that they can be harvested at perfect ripeness.
