Soda Springs

The data

Appellation

Santa Cruz Mountains

Elevation

2,250 ft

Acreage

1.5 acres

Distance to ocean

14.1 mi

Geology

Franciscan Complex

Soils

Shale, limestone, chert

Varieties

Chardonnay

Clones

Old Wente 76

Row orientation

North to South

Spacing

7 x 5

Vine age

30 years

What this means in the wine

At 2,250 feet and 14.1 miles from the water, Soda Springs ripens on its own schedule. Franciscan Complex underneath keeps the vines lean and the wines tight through the middle; the shale, limestone, chert holds just enough water to get through a dry September without stress.

Rows run north to south, planted 7 x 5. Vine age: 30 years. Older wood here gives smaller clusters and more concentrated, more savoury fruit than the young blocks, which is why we keep the lots separate in the cellar and usually bottle them that way too.