Jorian Hill Vineyards and Viticulture Profile

Located on the steep hillsides of Ballard Canyon in Santa Barbara County's acclaimed Santa Ynez Valley winegrowing region, the Jorian Hill estate vineyard has been carved from the land into terraces that contour to the site's natural topography. Home to 7.5 acres of hand-tended vineyards, and home to the Newman family, this beautiful property is farmed using sustainable, chemical-free methods to ensure the health of the vines, and the well-being of the people who live and work at Jorian Hill.

Meticulously cared for by renowned vineyard manager Jeff Frey, his skilled team, and a full-time, onsite vineyard caretaker, the cultivation of Jorian Hill focuses on capturing the rich and expressive varietal character of Syrah and Viognier. First planted in 1999, Jeff and the Newmans approach the vineyard as a passionate work in progress - continually refining viticultural techniques and farming methods in order to elevate quality.

Because of its unique location and its rare southwest-facing hillside terraces, Jorian Hill benefits from a distinctive microclimate that has proven ideal for the cultivation of classic Rhône varietals. Striking a balance between the cool weather of the Santa Rita Hills to the west, and the warmer zones of the Santa Ynez Valley to the east, Ballard Canyon is neither too cool, nor excessively warm. The result is a vineyard with all-day sunlight to ensure full ripening, and clockwork afternoon breezes to moderate temperatures and deter parasites. In addition, the site's unique weather imbues the fruit with excellent natural acidity and low pH levels, yielding food-friendly wines that display structure and aging potential.

The vineyard's exceptional gravelly loam soil drains well and has been planted with 6,000 Syrah vines, 1,000 Viognier vines, and most recently, 800 Grenache vines. In order to achieve a more expansive palette of flavors for its estate-grown Syrah, Jorian Hill uses three different clones: the French Noir Clone, U.C. Davis Clone 1, and Clone 877. To counter the inherent vigor of Syrah, all three have been planted on 1103 P rootstock - a rootstock that keeps growth in check, while also allowing for good maturity and generous hangtime. Jorian Hill's Viognier is an Alban Field Select Clone also planted using 1103 P rootstock. To ensure ample competition between the vines, fewer spurs, and reduced yields, the vineyard is planted using 4 by 8 foot spacing.

Based on the grade and accessibility requirements of the terraces, two different methods of trellising are used in the vineyard. Though predominantly planted using vertical shoot positioning to limit yields, the Viognier and 1,000 of the Syrah vines employ a Geneva Double Curtain to maximize sun exposure. Recently, the entire trellising system of Jorian Hill was reinforced in order to guarantee proper canopy balance and ideal fruit development. In addition, for the 2006 season bird netting was used in the vineyard to further protect the vines.

The vineyard utilizes a drip irrigation system drawing from pure, unchlorinated well water and uses emitters on either side of the vines. Jeff and his team constantly monitor and adjust water levels to ensure that the proper amount of energy goes toward quality fruit production instead of leaf and plant production.

In keeping with a philosophy guided by non-chemical, sustainable farming practices, all weeding in the vineyard is meticulously done by hand. To guarantee low yields combined with good vine balance-both keys to quality-Jeff instituted a new, more rigorous pruning regimen in 2006. This approach begins with coordinated early pruning to ensure even budbreak, while also emphasizing timely shoot positioning, significant thinning and fruit drops. For Syrah vines, the Jorian Hill team practices spur pruning, with cane pruning being the preferred method for Viognier. As a result of these careful pruning standards, the vineyard is displaying good vine balance, and is producing yields of less than 2 tons per acre for Syrah, and less than 3 tons per acre for Viognier. This emphasis on low yields has increased fruit concentration without taxing the relatively youthful plants.

As part of the sustainable approach that defines the vineyard, native populations of clover and grass are grown between the vine rows to maintain a habitat for beneficial insects that help fight pests. Mowed and left to mulch, these grasses, when combined with an extensive composting program, add nitrogen and other useful organics to the vineyard, promoting soil health without the use of invasive chemicals. This process also increases the tilth of the soil, resulting in better water penetration, less evaporation and reduced total water consumption. To further defend against unwanted pests and mildew, the vineyard crew has begun using several cutting-edge organic soil and vine treatments.

Though expensive and time consuming, the exacting vineyard practices used at Jorian Hill are already yielding extremely positive results, helping to elevate this naturally vibrant vineyard to its full potential. Following from this passionate, hands-on approach, Jorian Hill is cultivating small quantities of high-quality estate fruit for use in its two artisan wines: Jorian Hill Syrah, and Jorian Hill Viognier.