When the property that became Garys’ Vineyard came up for sale in 1997, Gary and his childhood friend Gary Pisoni secretly snuck on to the property to get a look. They knew opportunity in front of them—significant properties don’t come up for sale too often in this tight-knit community of generational family landowners. What they saw inspired them to pursue what has become an enduring partnership.
“Gary Pisoni and I made a handshake deal to plant this vineyard on an incredible piece of land. We established Garys’ Vineyard, naming the vineyard for the bond of our friendship,” Gary recalls. “As long-time partners, this vineyard is all about trust and a dedication of two families. We are rooted in the ground as long-time farmers, and this site was the mark that Gary Pisoni and I made together in the Highlands.”
“Garys’ is a wide-open mesa that starts at the bottom of a narrow V and gently slopes up the bench towards the mountain,” he explains. “It’s in the heart of the appellation and is a virgin planting that had never been planted to grapes before. It’s well-farmed and taken care of with great attention to detail. It’s still close enough to the Monterey Bay to sit in the fog and gain the acidity that keeps it balanced. It’s the matrimony of the fog, sun and wind.”
The vineyard is 50 planted acres with Calera and Pisoni clones of Pinot Noir. ROAR’s portion of Garys’ Vineyard is picked from four different blocks, spanning different sections of the vineyards, from the lower valleys to the high wide blocks closer to the mountains. Blocks closer to River Road at the lower elevations have rocky soils that retain more heat and therefore ripen earlier. The upper blocks are long rows that we’ve started picking in even more detailed sections. The north and south ends ripen at slightly different times so we’re honing in on exactly when to pick with each passing vintage.
Once at the winery, the grapes land in five separate fermentations, all in stainless steel tank. With the 2019 wines, we’re aging one of the lots into a new concrete tank. The remaining wines go to French oak, 65% new and the rest into seasoned first- and second-year barrels. Garys’ Vineyard produces earthy wines, with cola and blueberry flavors. It diverges from the femininity of Rosella’s Vineyard, just two miles away. “It’s like a young man that’s coming into his prime,” says Gary.
Take a look at the new www.garysvineyard.com site for more insight into this special place and why it stands out for its quality. When you’re enjoying our Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir or any of the wonderful wineries who make wine from Garys’, shout out #garysvineyard, share it on social channels and of course, give us a@ROARWines tag .
