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The Rio Vista Vineyards are located at the
eastern end of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation in Santa Barbara
County. The appellation is relatively small - only about 100
square miles, extending about four miles west of Buellton
to about two miles east of Lompoc. The Santa Rita Hills are
in the center of the appellation, with vineyards lining Highway
246 to the north and other vineyards lining the Santa Ynez
River valley and Santa Rosa Road to the south.
 There
are three Rio Vista Vineyards - the first two to be planted
(in 2000) are both on the east side of Santa Rosa Road: Rio
Vista Vineyard North is right against the appellation boundary
as it crosses the road; Rio Vista Vineyard South is about
a mile further into the appellation. The third Rio Vista Vineyard
was planted in 2006 and extends west from Santa Rosa Road,
surrounding the Thorne Wine headquarters.
For additional information about the Sta. Rita Hills AVA
and to view a map of the appellation with all of the vineyards
and wineries within its boundaries, please visit the official
website
of the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance.
Most of the vineyard rows run North - South with some East
- West along a west-facing hillside and unfold onto the valley
floor surrounding the Thorne headquarters.
The dominate soil series present are limestone,
sedimentary soils and a marine layer of sandy loam.
The Pinot Noir clones planted on the estate
include 777, 2A, 115, 667, 828, Pommard and Calera.
The trellising system is VSP or vertical
shoot positioning.
The cover crop usually is barley, sometimes
a legume and wild flowers will be used.
During harvest, the
pick is determined by each Rio Vista client regarding their
own block(s), and by the Thorne family when addressing their
own wines. |
