WindRock Vineyard: New Collaboration
 

WindRock Vineyard: A New Franscioni & Pisoni Family Collaboration

By Laura Ness

Farming and winemaking require constant attention and the ability to respond to the demands of the market, as well as to the vagaries of weather. As the Santa Lucia Highlands winegrowing region gained a global reputation for its bold hefty Pinot Noirs and statuesque Chardonnays, many row crop growers turned to vines, some adding them to their overall crop mix and others going all in on grapes. 

Farming families abound in the Santa Lucia Highlands, many with a long rich history in grape growing. Others stepped in to the new world of grapes as the 21st century dawned, bringing with it the beginning of an industry-altering (also mind- and wine-altering) obsession with Pinot Noir.

Despite its recent falloff in Nielsen sales numbers, Pinot Noir is still a darling of discerning collectors and actual drinkers. After all, unlike many Cabernet Sauvignons, most Pinot Noirs are actually quite enjoyable within a year or two of vintage date. Except for the ones that are made like cabernets, of course, but that is a different topic. 

New vineyards are still being planted in the Santa Lucia Highlands, which now boasts over 3,500 acres of Pinot Noir grapes. The latest is the WindRock Vineyard, a collaboration between the Franscioni and Pisoni families, located a short distance from Garys’ Vineyard, perhaps the wine world’s best-known example of how to correctly use apostrophes to illustrate the singular vs. plural instances of possession. (Gary’s would indicate one Gary owning the vineyard whereas Garys’ indicates more than one.) 

The Garys’ Vineyard venture began in 1996, and was followed by the planting of the Soberanes Vineyard in 2006. Both have attracted strong demand from all corners of Pinotdom, with winemakers lining up to secure fruit from these meticulously attended vineyards. Winemakers tell me that the care these lauded farming families put into these two iconic vineyards shows, in every single grape. 

Attention to detail matters: right down to the proper use of punctuation. 

Mark Pisoni and Gary Franscioni shared details of their latest farming venture, a jointly owned 16-acre parcel planted to Calera and Pommard clones of Pinot Noir. 

They had kicked around the idea of planting the parcel, with its soils ideal for vines, for over a decade, but the land was under a long-term lease to another farmer who was cultivating row crops. Then it came available and the project began to gather steam in 2018 and 2019. 

“Pinot Noir continues to be the majority of our acreage wherever we go in the Highlands,” they told me. “We sprinkle, in other varieties where we think they would be a nice fit. Soil is always the number one factor in considering this, but also total acres available. So far, we see WindRock as 100% Pinot Noir.”

Arriving at the name was a process. The land itself is notable for its endless rock piles and persistent winds. Like every other plot of land in their care, they seek to express its voice. 

“The name came about on a cold, windy and miserable day in May of 2020,” Pisoni says. “Gary Franscioni was at the site working with our team. We were struggling with our schedule due to the weather. On this day Gary was helping the trencher run ditches for the irrigation pipes. The machine would excavate and create piles of rocks. The wind was running over these piles and blowing dust everywhere. Gary called me and said, ‘We should call this vineyard WindRock because there is not a damn thing here but wind and rock!’ It was fitting and natural. We all immediately agreed.” 

Thus, after several years of working through the trademarking process, they were happy to secure naming rights for WindRock Vineyard.

The vineyard put forth its first very small harvest in 2023, and for now, they are introducing the fruit to existing partner wineries, but keeping most of the grapes for their own use in the ROAR and Lucia by Pisoni brands.

They do have a list of winemakers who have requested fruit. 

The choice of Calera and Pommard stems from their experience with these clones in their other ranches. Franscioni and Pisoni feel these clones have a great synergy. “Calera has small clusters and great aromatic intensity and richness. Pommard has larger clusters and firm tannins. They have potential for very harmonious wines,” says Pisoni.

Asked if they planned to make a vineyard designate from the site for ROAR, both say yes, but want to give the site a few more years to mature first.

What is most notable about the property, they say, are these two points: “First, it’s exploring another personality of Santa Lucia Highlands soil. And second, it’s the continuation of our families working together, planting our third vineyard together. Multi-generational farmers continuing something our families have done in this valley for over one hundred years. This continues to be more and more rare.” 

Cooperation to achieve something greater than an individual win is laudable and exemplary. It’s what propels the kind of teamwork necessary to achieve dynasty status.