Martin Ranch Winery features an upper vineyard and a lower vineyard totaling nearly 8,800 vines. The bulk of the vines are Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest made up of small lots consisting of Nebbiolo, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Chardonnay.

The upper vineyard is partitioned into seven different sections, the majority of which are made up of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. These grapes are 14 years old, planted in 1993 on a quadro-lateral lyre system.
     · The slope, which is also part of the first planting, is located on a quadro-lateral lyre system.
     · The terraced hill was planted in 1995 on a vertical trellis and faces the one-acre pond.
     · Two other areas are on the same system—the pond-side vertical and the back vertical. These areas were planted in 1998 after extensive terracing and feature Cabernet Sauvignon grapes throughout. There is a mixture of clones #4, 7, 8 on a 110R rootstock, resulting in small, intense-flavored berries. This part of the vineyard is at a higher altitude with both a south and southwest facing.
     · On the eastern side of the pond is a small knoll that is the home of the Nebbiolo vineyard. It has approximately 300 vines and is also on a quadro-lateral lyre system. This knoll is very similar to the soils you see in Piedmonte, Italy—rocky and clay-like. The Nebbiolo grape, being a native of Italy, thrives in areas such as this in large, plump clusters.
     · On a terraced section to the east of the Nebbiolo is a small section of the Cabernet Franc vineyard. This terraced area of about 180 vines of Cabernet Franc is planted on a vertical trellis.

The lower vineyard is where our second area of Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 1993. These vines are also on rootstock 110R and a selection of clones #4, 7, 8. We have also planted Cabernet Franc here in the lower vineyard, and most recently Petit Verdot and Chardonnay. This vineyard has a much higher level of ground water than the upper vineyard, which provides these vines with a more consistent source of water. The elevation is a couple hundred feet lower than the upper vineyard, providing greater shelter from the wind. All these factors work in concert to produce a different style of fruit—larger clusters and fuller berries.

The differences in these vineyards create a more balanced wine—and a more enjoyable winetasting experience for our customers.