Sonoma Coast Appellation

The Sonoma Coast Appellation is large and runs from the Pacific Ocean to San Pablo Bay to the Mendocino County border. Black Kite Cellars sources its fruit from two distinctive parts of this appellation: Gap’s Crown and Jasper Freestone.

GAP'S CROWN

We make wine from Gap’s Crown Vineyard. This vineyard is located on the lower steps of Sonoma Mountain just above Petaluma Hill Road. It is an east facing vineyard influenced by the marine elements – cool weather, wind and fog coming though the Petaluma Gap – a gap in the Coastal Range. This vineyard is now part of the Petaluma Gap sub-appellation. 

Missy at bud break at Gap's Crown 2020.jpg

Clones:  Pinot Noir: Dijon 777; Chardonnay: Dijon 95, 76 and 15
Root Stock:  
Row Orientation:  North/ South
Soil:  Rocky, brown clay
Altitude at top:  400 feet and 100 feet above the Santa Rosa Plain
Trellising:  Vertical shoot position.  Cane pruned
Unique attributes: Lies on the lower slopes of Sonoma Mountain facing southwest.  The vineyard slowly warms up during the day after morning fog, and experiences the coastal winds coming through the Petaluma Gap, creating wonderfully long hangtimes.

Jasper FREESTONE VINEYARD

Our second source of grapes is from a vineyard we planted in the heart of Freestone Valley in 2015. Freestone is in the Western part of Sonoma County a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. This area is wild, windswept, and cool. Our experiment here is to prove the adage that pinot is greatest when the vines live on the edge of disaster. The first release from this vineyard will be in 2021.  

Winter at Freestone.jpg

Clones:  Pinot Noir: 2A, 828, Pommard, Calera; Chardonnay:  Dijon 95, Hyde Wente/Musque
Root Stock: 101-14
Row Orientation:  NW/SW
Soil: Goldridge
Altitude at the top:  150
Trellising: Vertical
Unique attributes:  Four miles from the Pacific Ocean.  Very cool climate, with cool mornings and  afternoon breezes from the nearby ocean leading to long hangtimes.