Russian River Valley
Where Apples Flourish, Grapes Thrive
Named after Bill’s first and only son, James, William James Vineyard is located in Gravenstein – the heart of Sonoma County’s apple country. For the uninitiated, part of Sonoma County’s history is rooted in the belief that where apples thrived, grapes would too. Filled with gorgeous, lightweight Goldridge soil, this vineyard is incredible for producing pinot noirs of depth and complexity.
Location
William James is right off Highway 12, just west of Sebastopol. Surrounded by rolling hills, this vineyard sits on a small knoll and is bordered by apple orchards. In fact, the property used to be an apple orchard itself.
History
Named after Bill’s only son, William James was acquired in 2011 and is one of our newer estates. 2017 marks the first vintage from this Estate vineyard after we planted in 2012.
Terroir
This 7-acre vineyard sits about 200ft above sea level where it experiences good air flow with steady winds almost every afternoon. One of our cooler-climate vineyards, this Pinot-only site is exposed to cooling elements as the San Pablo Bay fog rolls in quickly every night.
Pinot Noir
At the crest of one the rolling hills on the way to the Pacific Ocean, the William James vineyard gets consistent afternoon breezes that flutter through the vineyard, cooling off the days growing cycle. The Pinot Noir from this site has a dark red fruit profile with black cherry, dried herbs and even some lighter hibiscus notes. The famous Goldridge soils contribute to the fine texture that expands on the palate, yielding a delicious and lasting finish.
Stats
AVA: Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast
Elevation: 230’-280’
Soils: Goldridge Fine Sandy LoamVarietyPinot Noir 6.52 acres
Pinot Noir Clones: Calera, Swan, 943
Acres: 14 total; 6.52 planted
Wine List
- William James Vineyard Pinot Noir | Russian River Valley
Our Winemaking
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Heritage
Our Heritage collection of wines hail from the most expansive estate vineyards in our collection. Durell, Gap’s Crown, and Walala are all known for producing rich, complex, deep wines that stand the test of time. From vintage to vintage, these wines surprise and delight.
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Monopole
Our Monopole collection of wines are rare beauties from our three most precious estate vineyards. Alana, One Sky, and William James yield a collection of the most expressive, intense, and delicious wines in our wine story. These wines are hard to come by and even harder to hold onto.
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Meticulously and obsessively handcrafted from the most extraordinary barrels from each vintage across our collection of six estate vineyards. This is a love letter..
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Casteñada
Our Casteñada wines are delicious, field-blended Rhône varietals made to honor the long history of winemaking and growing in Sonoma Valley. Described as a party in a bottle, these wines are full of energy and life while harkening back to another era.
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