Searby Vineyard
Just shy of 10 acres, the Searby Vineyard is situated on a gently sloping, west-facing hillside on the legendary Goldridge soils of the Russian River Valley. Originally planted in 1972 by Sonoma wine industry pioneer Warren Dutton, this classic site is dry-farmed, relying upon the marine influence of the nearby Pacific to keep it exceptionally cool and the evening fog to provide moisture.
Cared for by celebrated vineyard manager Charles Heintz, Searby Vineyard is head-trained, meaning the vines grow without trellising, and undergo minimal pruning and spraying. At almost 50-years old, the old-vine Rued clone Chardonnay produces smaller yields with each passing vintage – small, intensely-aromatic Chardonnay grapes that are then entrusted to winemaker James MacPhail.
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The Green Valley sub-AVA is considered part of the Russian River Valley and was awarded AVA status in 1983. A relic of an inland sea that dried up several million years ago, mineral-rich and sandy Goldridge soil is abundant in the area. The climate is relatively cool and the valley is one of just a few in the area that are mostly sheltered from coastal winds, which allows the nightly fog to hover for longer than other areas and limit temperature fluctuation throughout the day. Vineyards continue to share this area with apple orchards – Sonoma’s other major agricultural crop – and the famous Gravenstein apple has called the Green Valley home since the 18th century.
