Microclimates | Reduced Yields | Sustainable Practices | Vineyard Evolution

Microclimates
Our Estate’s diverse micro-climates are ideal for growing Bordeaux varieties. Warm temperatures start early in the year and continue through October for late, yet ideal, ripening conditions. A very slight marine influence affects our Estate through the Petaluma Gap, giving it the diurnal temperature differentiation—or warm days and cool nights—of classic winegrowing regions throughout the world.

Daytime temperatures are very similar to Napa Valley's Oakville District. However, nights at Lancaster Estate are approximately 3 degrees warmer than Oakville. The nighttime temperatures are both cool enough to maintain optimum acidity in grapes and warm enough to allow them to continue ripening throughout the growing period. This extended growing period is vital to slowly developing varietal maturity and provides synchrony of sugar, acid and flavor ripeness.