The Vision for Avanguardia Vineyard

Rob began planning his premium blend vineyard in the late 1970s. With a classic style in mind, his vision was to develop a creative combination of tradition and innovation. The historic European approach is to blend fine locally grown varietals to create great wines, such as Chateau Margaux or Valpolicella. But Rob didn’t have to rely on the mostly French varieties traditionally grown in California—he could choose fine grapes from around the world.

He settled on grapes from France, Italy, and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, along with two vinifera crosses developed by Professor Harold P. Olmo at the University of California at Davis. Each was selected for blending qualities of flavor, aroma, complexity, acid balance, and tannins. For 12 years, he planted and experimented with viticulture and winemaking as a hobbyist.

Contracting with the University of California at Davis, their Foundation Plant Materials Department imported over a dozen Italian varieties for him—vines that had never been grown before in the U.S.

Finding the Right Place

In 1990, after extensive soil and climate research, Rob selected the northern California foothills near Nevada City for his commercial vineyard. It’s located in a mixed conifer forest at 2,100 feet elevation.

On a 15-acre parcel, he chose 3.5 acres to develop into a vineyard and winery. This area was cleared of Ponderosa pines and oak. The soil was cross-ripped, cleared of rock cobbles, trenches were dug, and an irrigation system installed. Vines are irrigated by carefully regulated drip emitters with sweet, clear well water.

An 8-foot deer fence surrounds the vineyard, keeping out voracious deer (though not wild turkeys). Each hole for over 2,500 plants was dug with an auger on the back of a 1957 Ford 600 tractor. When rocks proved too stubborn for the auger or a post-hole digger, Rob used a pick-axe.

Rob installed two trellis systems, each matched to the vigor of the grape variety. The two-armed lyre trellis was used for vigorous Sangiovese, while moderately vigorous vines such as Semillon were supported by the vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis.

Terroir and Microclimates

A vineyard’s terroir is a magical mix of climate, soil, and water. Avanguardia Vineyard’s terroir has three microsites, not dissimilar from regions in Italy.

• Southwest slope: warm, dry, and rocky
• Northeast slope: cooler with deeper soils
• Bottomland near the stream: cool but rocky

The soil is clay loam built from a base of Triassic slate overlaid with glaciated cobbles. Summer temperatures peak in the low 90s but are moderated by frequent Delta breezes from the coast. Spring and fall are often long and mild. Winter usually brings two or three snowstorms with temperatures in the 20s. Average rainfall is 55–70 inches, mostly in winter.

Matching Varieties to the Land

Heat-loving varieties such as Sangiovese, Negrara, and Barbera are planted high on the southwest slope. Rkatsiteli—with its Georgian winter heritage—buds late at the end of May and is planted lower on the southwest slope where frosts persist.

The southwest slope also includes Corvina and Molinara.
Short-season whites—Melon de Bourgogne, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris—are planted on the upper northeast slope.

Other varieties across the vineyard include Corvina, Carmine, Mondeuse, Biancolella, Erbaluce, Forastera, Tocai Friulano, Flora, and Semillon. The bottomland is planted in Dolcetto, Rondinella, Montepulciano, Chenin Blanc, Peverella, and Orange Muscat.

The Growing Season and Harvest

Veraison—the coloring of the grapes—occurs in July and August. Grape clusters are thinned with a goal of yielding about 3½ tons per acre. After veraison, watering is often limited.

Harvest stretches from late August or early September through the second or third week of November. To determine ripeness, Rob checks berry samples from each variety for Brix, pH, total acidity, and overall condition. Marilyn also checks the seeds and skins for color and taste.

The harvest typically produces 750–1,000 cases of premium blends.

A Living Ecosystem

The vineyard is rich in local wildlife. Coveys of Valley quail scratch the soil beneath the vines. On any given day, mountain bluebirds, wild turkeys, flickers, meadowlarks, red-tailed hawks, and many other species can be seen.

Gray squirrels, opossums, raccoons, jackrabbits, red foxes, and coyotes are frequent visitors. A wide array of spiders make their home in the grape leaves, along with beneficial insect predators such as the praying mantis.

The vineyard thrives as a healthy ecosystem supported by sustainable farming practices.