Larkmead Vineyards
The historic Larkmead Estate vineyard comprises 113 acres of the entire 145 acre site. Split among three distinct blocks and eight grape varieties, vines range in age from four to 124 years. The Estate is a naturally low vigor and a low yielding vineyard, averaging three to four tons an acre.
Cabernet Clones
With the majority of the Estate planted to Cabernet, the vineyard maintains a diverse variety of clonal selections including: 1, 4, 7, 8, 15, 191, 337, Jenkins, Olmo, Philips and Jackson.
Other Grape Varieties
The second largest dedicated grape variety based on acreage is Merlot with 17 acres planted to clones 1, 8, 181, 314 and Red Barn. The remaining "noble" Bordeaux varieties make up the remaining red grapes planted on the site - Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Since 2005 Larkmead has embarked on producing world-class white wines. We have 10 acres of Sauvignon Blanc planted and less than two acres of 120+ year old Tocai and newly planted Viognier vines.
Vineyard Management
At Larkmead we are dedicated to sustainable farming, utilizing the best viticultural management practices. Over the past two years we have moved toward organic farming as much as it is applicable to our unique site that acts like a hillside vineyard in "Up Valley" Calistoga. Located at one of the narrowest parts of Napa Valley, the valley floor Estate is divided by the Napa River with the vineyard sloping into the river bed and showing a prevalence of rock and loam soils characterized by its predominance of sand, silt and clay. The soils, the drainage, the Calistoga micro-climate, the low vigor and resulting low yields from our diverse vine and variety plantings are what, we believe, make Larkmead wines unique in their wine purity, texture and complexity.