One Acre of Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Hills AVA for Three Vintages: Free of Charge
(Amber Knolls Vineyard, Red Hills AVA of Lake County, Calif.—January 25, 2016) – The Beckstoffer name is synonymous with the highest quality vineyards in Northern California wine growing regions including Napa Valley, Mendocino County and the Red Hills of Lake County. It’s the latter where the Beckstoffers will offer ten experienced or aspiring winemakers the opportunity to receive grapes, free of charge, from the 2016, 2017 and 2018 harvests from their vineyards in the Red Hills AVA.
The Beckstoffers’ Two Decade Commitment to the Red Hills AVA
Though best known for their six Napa Heritage Vineyard sites: To Kalon, Dr. Crane, Bourn, Las Piedras, Georges III and Missouri Hopper, for more than 20 years, the father and son duo have focused time and resources on what they believe to be the most promising new Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard sites from the New World of wine – the Red Hills AVA in Lake County. Roughly 60 miles north of Napa Valley, the lure of the Red Hills is its winning combination of rich volcanic soil and optimal growing climate that produces grapes with greater tannins and complex flavor. Since acquiring three Red Hills vineyards in 1997, the Beckstoffers have been focused on elevating the health of the vineyards by farming to the standards of excellence and sustainability of their renowned Napa Valley vineyards. The vines produce fruit of exceptional character and color, with all the potential of an ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon wine.
The Beckstoffers will be offering ten eligible winemakers the opportunity to select one acre of Cabernet Sauvignon from the their Amber Knolls Vineyards in the Red Hill AVA, with each winemaker or vintner receiving one acre of grapes (approximately three and a half tons) for three years.
The Opportunity
The Beckstoffers will back the winemakers not only with grapes, but also by farming their Red Hills Vineyards to the criteria of their notable Napa Valley Heritage Vineyards. Beckstoffer farming standards include working with winemakers on monitoring soil, ground and vine moisture measurements, custom canopy management tailored to specific vine row sun exposure and trellis design ensuring even ripening, and harvesting all grapes by hand into small containers. Each winemaker will have the chance to work directly with the Beckstoffer vineyard team to monitor the growing and harvest seasons. After the three year, free of charge program, the winemakers will be given first rights to enter into a long-term contract for their chosen acre at 2019 market value.
Eligible winemakers will need to provide their talent and knowledge as well as winemaking facility, barrels and bottling. Each bottle produced will be labeled Amber Knolls, Red Hills of Lake County AVA, and the winemakers will be permitted to use the Beckstoffer name in sales and marketing efforts. *See Qualifications and Application process below
The Red Hills AVA
Established in 2004, the Red Hills AVA is located in the northern Mayacamas Mountains on the southwest edge of Clear Lake. At the foot of Mount Konocti, the AVA is comprised of dozens of volcanic hills ranging from 1,350 to over 3,700 feet above sea level. Grapes are grown in mountain climate conditions with the majority of the AVA’s acreage planted at or over 2,000 feet allowing for greater levels of sunlight. The exposure to sunlight, combined with low humidity and temperate climate create a perfect growing season, allowing grapes to ripen without dramatic fluctuations, resulting in bright, balanced wines with complex flavor.
Beckstoffer Vineyards owns approximately 1,250 acres in the Red Hills of Lake County, with the 844-acre Amber Knolls Vineyard planted at 2,000-2,400 feet elevations. As with all Beckstoffer-owned vineyards, Amber Knolls is farmed with commitment and long-term vision to the stewardship of the land by using innovation and sustainability to improve vine health, productivity and quality.
Accolades for Beckstoffer Vineyards Amber Knolls Vineyards and the Red Hills AVA
Considered one of California’s most influential winemakers, Paul Hobbs has been purchasing fruit from Beckstoffer’s Heritage Vineyards for more than 20 years. He has this to say about the potential for Beckstoffer Vineyards in the Red Hills AVA, “We made a cabernet sauvignon wine with grapes from the Amber Knolls Vineyard in 2008 and the wine was excellent. With good yield control in the vineyard, premium winemaking including aging in small French oak barrels, there is real promise for ultra-premium cabernet sauvignon from the Amber Knolls Vineyard.”
Schrader wines proprietor, Fred Schrader, began purchasing fruit from Beckstoffer Vineyards Amber Knolls Vineyard in 2002. He says, “We were drawn to the site because of the unique Red Hills complex soil and the fact that the elevation was at 2,100 ft, a height that rivals Napa’s Diamond Mountain. We have been pleased with every vintage. This is the new frontier for amazing Cabernet.”
About Beckstoffer Vineyards
Founded in 1970, Beckstoffer Vineyards is firmly rooted in the soil of Northern California’s wine country, with Andy Beckstoffer playing an integral role in the evolution of the wine grape industry since 1970. Joined at the family-owned business by his son David in 1997, they share a common mission – to produce the highest quality grapes in Northern California that form the foundation for exceptional wines – and a combined passion for the land and viticulture expertise. At the forefront of land conservation and labor practices, Beckstoffer Vineyards is committed to bringing agricultural sensitivity, business acumen and technology to the industry as a whole, and to each of the communities in which they do business.
In total, Beckstoffer Vineyards owns and farms roughly 3,600 acres of vineyards in Napa Valley, Mendocino County and the Red Hills of Lake County, including some of Napa’s most historic vineyard properties. The six Heritage Vineyards, with origins dating back to the 19th century, include To Kalon, Dr. Crane, Bourn, Las Piedras, Georges III and Missouri Hopper. Each vineyard has a history and provenance that is unparalleled in California, offering a combination of soil and climate that have historically produced the highest quality Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for the finest wines.
* Interested winemakers are invited to submit their resume and cover letter to info@beckstoffervineyards.com by February 15, 2016. Qualifications include a minimum of five years in winemaking production as a winemaker or enologist, and knowledge and experience producing ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon. Candidates will be invited to meet in-person with Andy and David Beckstoffer for an interview, with interviews being completed by March 15, 2016, and contracts awarded on April 1, 2016, after which the ten selected winemakers will receive an invitation to join the Beckstoffers at their Amber Knolls Vineyard to select their acre parcel and determine their farming protocol with the Beckstoffer viticultural team.
