WILLIAM WESLEY VINEYARD, SONOMA COAST

The William Wesley Vineyard provides the fruit for the William Wesley cuvée. The vineyard is located on steep rolling hills 65 miles north and 11 miles west of the Hallberg Ranch, near the tiny coastal hamlet of Annapolis. Perfectly parallel vine rows with manicured canopies of bright green leaves snake up steep hillsides and are framed by an amphitheater of majestic redwood forests.

The terroir of Emeritus William Wesley wines reflects the beauty and charm of the William Wesley Vineyard. This wine is perhaps the finest testament to the superior soils, the perfect climate, and the exceptional skills of the Emeritus Team—from planting, to harvest, to fermentation, barrel aging, and bottling. This, we believe, is a noble wine.

Originating on the northern reach of Goldridge soils, William Wesley wines share similar characteristics with Emeritus Russian River Valley, but the steep hillsides deepen and intensify the mountainous character in the William Wesley cuvée, and contribute to a longer aging potential than the Russian River fruit.

Due to its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean (about seven miles), the climate of William Wesley Vineyard is cooler than in the Russian River Valley. However, at an elevation of 1,000 feet, the vineyard sits just above the fog layer allowing the grapes to ripen in full sun from morning until sunset. Cold nights allow the grapes to retain their acids and intense flavors, producing what would be considered a rare, reserve wine for Emeritus.

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