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Satellite image of Old Hill Ranch showing the Bucklin vineyard blocks.

Wines

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Old Hill Ranch is located in the heart of Sonoma Valley. The vineyard stretches almost a mile, grazing the base of both Sonoma Mountain and the Mayacamas, however, it is only 1/10 of a mile wide. Near its midsection it is transected by Butler Creek, separating the vineyard into two distinct growing sites.

The west side, where we grow our Ancient and Bambino, is comprised of alluvial soils (the coveted Tuscan red clay) that are deep and generous and accommodate very deep roots.

While, on the east side of the creek, where we used to grow Cabernet but now grow our Otto’s Grenache and Mixed Whites, there is an impermeable layer of volcanic tuff that underlies the shallow soil.

We grow and produce upwards of 10 different wine annually from our vineyards, with each wine defined by their place, their history, and of course, our farming techniques.




Ancient Block

Ancient Block (very old vines)

Established: 1885
Acres: 12
Irrigation: None
Root Stock: Saint George
Soil Type: Tuscan red clay loam
Farming: See https://buckzin.com/farming/

The 12-acre "Ancient Block" is among California's oldest vineyards. 

Blend: There are at least 30 grape varieties planted promiscuously throughout the 12 acres. Zinfandel makes up the greatest portion (≈60%) with Grenache (≈15%) second. The teinturiers, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, and to a much lesser extent, Lenoir and Petite Bouschet make up about 10% of the vineyard. And, there is a significant amount of Carignane, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Petite Sirah too. Using DNA we have documented three very rare varieties that otherwise only exist in the French Alps; Mollard, Persan, and Etraire de la Dui. There are a small, but important amount of white grapes; Chardonnay, French Colombard, Chasselas, Muscat of Alexandria and Clairette Blanche. To a lesser extent we find Aramon, Catawba, Peloursin, Charbono, Black Muscat and Tannat throughout. Also rumored, but not confirmed, there may be Merlot, Tempranillo, and Trousseau. Finally, there is a significant amount of the “unknown spotted grape” named for the fact that it has no DNA marker and the grapes have spots.

The following wines are produced from the Ancient Block:




Bottle of Bambino Blocks

Bambino Blocks The younger vines, separated into 4 small blocks that are all contiguous to the ancient block.

Established: 1999 - While the vines are approaching 25years of age, they will always be our "Bambinos" compared to the 135 year old vines in the Ancient Field Blend.
Acres: 8
Irrigation: 1/3 is dry-farmed. Depending on the vintage, the remaining blocks are irrigated 2 – 4 times per year at 5 gallons per plant per irrigation. Approximately 7 gallons of irrigation per bottle of wine.
Root Stock: Saint George
Soil Type: Varies from well drained tuscan red loam to dark black boot sucking clay.
Farming: See https://buckzin.com/farming/

There are three different blocks that all exist on the west side of the creek.  They consist of 70% Zinfandel 18% Petite Sirah 7% Alicante Bouschet and 5% Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Carignane. The majority of the grapes are used to produce our "Bambino"

The following wines are produced from the Bambino Blocks




The Mogul

Tuff Love

This side of Butler Creek is perfect hillock, with the Mixed Whites planted at the top and the Otto's on the west facing slope towards the setting sun.  The soils range in depth from 24 inches to 4 feet and are underlain by fractured volcanic tuff which is volcanic ash combined with glass and rock ejected a million years ago from vents along the valley floor.  




Bottle of Upper 5th

Upper 5th

Our Mom, Anne, began selling her home-grown vegetables by leaving a cash box out along Hwy. 12 for “donations.” This grew when she opened a flower shop on the Sonoma Plaza and in turn she opened the Red Barn Store on her farm. Anne has been selling organic produce all over the San Francisco Bay Area for over 40 years.

Anne’s Field Blend comes from her one-acre, 80-year-old, Upper 5th Vineyard that she purchased in 2010. The vineyard adjoins her farm which sits directly across from Old Hill Ranch.

The small vineyard is a field blend consisting of about 60% Zinfandel, with Petite Sirah, Peloursin (closely akin to Petite Sirah) and a few Mourvèdre and French Colombard vines. There are fruit trees in the vineyard that, besides making it difficult to navigate a tractor, shade and cool the vines creating a brighter and leaner profile than the Old Hill wines. Typically the wine displays aromas of raspberry and cherry with some mint and eucalyptus spice. The wine is aged in once-used French barrels.