Vineyard

The Seavey’s began planting their 40 acre vineyard in 1981 under the management of Roy Raymond, Jr., and Raymond Vineyards bought all the grapes until 1990, when the Seavey’s made the first vintage of their own Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. In 1994, they produced the first vintage of their Merlot, and in 1999, added a second Cabernet, the Caravina. All of these wines are estate produced at Seavey Vineyard.

The vineyard consists of more than 20 small, primarily southeast facing hillside blocks and has a 400 foot vertical rise. Rootstock and clone are selected to maximize the potential of each individual block, and trellising and pruning are adapted accordingly. Vineyard manager Mario Gutierrez' 24 year association with Seavey vineyard allows him to understand the needs of each vine.

The same high level of care given in the vineyard continues at harvest and in the winemaking process. Grapes are handpicked at the prime level of ripeness and richness and transported to the winery in the baskets within 30 minutes of picking. The red grapes are hand sorted and destemmed before being gently lifted into small tanks for fermentation. The wine then ages for 18 to 19 months in French oak barrels, 35-50% new, until it is bottled on site. Only then does it leave the property.