RUTHERFORD, Calif., June 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Long Meadow Ranch (LMR) announced today the acquisition of a 145-acre property in Anderson Valley, California, completing one of the appellation's largest viticultural land purchases in the past decade. LMR also announced that Stephane Vivier will serve as winemaker for the new Anderson Valley Estate's 69 acres of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Combined with the Rutherford Estate's 74 acres of vineyard and Mayacamas Estate's 16 acres of vineyard, the Anderson Valley Estate expands LMR's estate-grown vineyards to over 159 acres. Purchase price of the Anderson Valley Estate is undisclosed.
Long Meadow Ranch Anderson Valley Estate is planted with 50 acres of Pinot Noir, 17 acres of Chardonnay and two acres of Pinot Gris. Located in the "deep end" of the valley (near Philo, CA), Long Meadow Ranch CEO & President Ted Hall believes this location is ideal for producing vineyard-designated Burgundian wines that present true varietal character.
"Our Anderson Valley Estate will enable us to make estate-grown wines of the highest quality, a perfect compliment to our existing portfolio," said Ted Hall. "We've established strong positions with the classic Bordeaux varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot at our Rutherford and Mayacamas Estates in Napa Valley. Expanding into estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a natural fit, and we believe Anderson Valley is the ideal location to produce premium, Burgundian varietal wines."
Long Meadow Ranch Anderson Valley Estate's southeastern border lies at the Navarro River, providing a natural conduit for the marine layer that regularly blankets the deep end of the valley, creating terroir that is ideal for producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines that express balance and complexity.
"I've admired wines from the Anderson Valley appellation for a long time," said LMR's Executive Vice President Chris Hall. "Wine quality speaks to the expertise of the winegrowing community here. That's valuable to us because so much of winegrowing is learning; we're not just expanding our estate wine portfolio, but also deepening our knowledge of organic viticulture."
Comprised of numerous blocks with varying elevations, soil composition, sun exposure and proximity to the Navarro river, the property's diversity is a significant part of its winemaking appeal. The vineyard is also planted with a unique combination of Dijon and Heirloom clones, providing new winemaker Stephane Vivier with a myriad of options for the initial releases expected in 2016.
A native of Burgundy and longtime winemaker at HDV Wines, Stephane Vivier will be Long Meadow Ranch's winemaker for the Anderson Valley Estate. "Stephane's old world sensibility is well-suited to produce the balanced style of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines that we want to feature in our Estate portfolio," said Chris Hall.
"Terroir of this quality allows for a light touch," said Vivier, referencing the unique winemaking conditions present at the site. "The subtleties and complexities characteristic of the Burgundian varietals are not always easy to achieve in the United States. Pinot Noir here can have a tendency for high alcohol and can be overly fruit-forward, in part because that's what the climate allows. But in the Anderson Valley, and specifically in the deep end of the valley, the possibilities are intriguing."
Vivier joins the winemaking team for LMR, which includes Ashley Heisey, director of winemaking, and Sal Godinez, winemaker for the Mayacamas Estate. Vivier will work in Anderson Valley with longtime LMR viticulturalist, Garrett Buckland of Premier Viticulture, and vineyard manager Paul Ardzrooni of Ardzrooni Vineyard Management. Together, they will oversee the 2015 harvest from the new property.
Full-Circle Farming
Commitment to the highest quality, organic farming is the mechanism that achieves extraordinary results. Every farming practice at Long Meadow Ranch is grounded in scientific first principle with a well-developed point of view about why it works. LMR's integrated farming system relies on each part of its operations contributing to the health of the whole. Vineyards and winemaking, olive groves and olive oil, organic fruit and vegetable farming, honeybees, egg-laying poultry and cattle breeding all work together in cost-effective, complementary fashion.
Fertilizers are produced through an extensive composting operation that relies on organic material from each segment of the operation. Soil erosion is controlled and new soils are built through the use of permanent cover crops comprised of carefully selected grasses, clovers, and legumes.
Long Meadow Ranch has adopted dozens of similar practices throughout its operations, creating an integrated, full-circle approach to farming.
About Long Meadow Ranch
Long Meadow Ranch is a family-owned agricultural enterprise producing estate-grown grapes and wine, olives and olive oil, grass-fed beef and lamb, fruits, vegetables, and eggs. The multifaceted operation includes, in the Napa Valley, the 650-acre LMR Mayacamas Estate home ranch located in the Mayacamas Mountains above Rutherford and the 90-acre LMR Rutherford Estate, located on the Rutherford Bench, and, in Mendocino county, the 145-acre LMR Anderson Valley Estate.
In addition, Long Meadow Ranch operates a general store and wine tasting bar in the historic Logan-Ives House, an outdoor cafe, a farmer's market, and an acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant, all located at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch (738 Main Street, St. Helena in the Napa Valley). The destination location also includes working gardens and a variety of unique event spaces.
In addition to the activities in Anderson and Napa valleys, farming and cattle operations take place on properties in Marin and Humboldt counties.
Consistent with its time-honored motto of "Excellence through Responsible Farming," Long Meadow Ranch is certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers.
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