ABOUT KEMP VINEYARD…

Location - A stunning terraced vineyard is located on a ridgeline 3.8 miles west of Healdsburg and 15 miles northeast of the Pacific Ocean. 

AVA - Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County California

Acreage -4

Elevation - 720' to 525' sloping to the northeast

Soil - Decomposed sandstone

Clone – Durrell

Trellising - Vertical Shoot Position

Climate - Average summertime high temperatures in the mid 80's and average low temperatures in the low 50's. The vineyard has occasional morning fog but usually sits slightly above the fog line. Average rainfall is approximately 42" per year.

Vineyard Management - Our family's vineyard management company, Bacchus Vineyard Management, worked closely with vineyard owner Alson Kemp on vine architecture, canopy management, nutrition and irrigation and the resulting fruit was everything we hoped for.

Kemp Vineyard History – The vineyard was planted by Alson and Martha Kemp in 1997. On a search for their perfect country retreat they found a heavily forested ridgeline property a few miles outside of Healdsburg. Soon they learned from neighbors that vineyards and orchards had been planted there in the early 1900’s and the vineyards were in fact tended during WWII by German prisoners of War. Although long since overgrown by the native plant population, they found the remnants of an old logging road and vineyard. The Kemps undertook the challenging prospect of replanting the property in 1999. 

Planting was extremely difficult. The site is basically rock and decomposed sandstone. Very little topsoil exists, forcing the vines to struggle relentlessly to survive and produce a crop. This struggle produces fruit of exceptional depth, color, and flavors. Small berries and clusters are the norm, and the wines from this block are naturally dark, and expressive.