Vineyard
Jada Vineyard lies in an incredible pocket in the hills of the Santa Lucia Coastal Range west of Paso Robles. A low spot (1,700 ft) in the range directly west of the vineyard funnels cool coastal air from the Pacific Ocean (approx. 20 miles) through the corridor commonly referred to as the Templeton Gap. Blessed with abundant sunshine throughout the growing season, the maritime influence moderates the heat and provides incredibly cool evenings. Temperature swings of 40+ degrees are the norm.
To winegrowers, the beauty here is found beyond, in fact beneath, the surface. Under the shallow topsoil of clay loam lie massive deposits of calcareous shale and pockets of limestone. As a result the soil is well drained and lean and the growing environment is challenging. The soil contributes to reduced vigor in the vines and decreased berry size which plays a huge part in the intensity of the fruit and imparts a complex underlying minerality.
Our ninety acre property rests on a southwest facing hillside of which 60 acres were planted in 1999 to a variety of Bordeaux and Rhône Varietals. The orientation of the vineyard benefits from abundant sunshine which marries well with the moderate temperatures and cool breezes. As a result, harvest generally occurs near the end of October into the beginning of November. This long maturation process allows for superb development of color and intensity in character while maintaining acidity.
To further explore the potential of the site, carefully selected sections of the vineyard were replanted in the spring of 2007. The replanting added clonal variations of Syrah as well as the introduction of Grenache, Mourvedre and white Rhône Varietals including Viognier, Roussanne, and Grenache Blanc. Spacing was tightened to increase the vine counts to over 1800 per acre. This will introduce greater competition between vines and decrease the number of clusters each vine must ripen. Yield, therefore, becomes of a pound per vine figure rather than tons per acre.
