The right conditions

Hot days, cool nights, poor soils and lack of rainfall are all prerequisites for growing great Bordeaux varieties, oddly, because they lend to stressed vines. Mother Nature has blessed Indian Valley Vineyards with these conditions, which coax the vines to produce deeply concentrated fruit.

Indian Valley, technically in Monterey County, is located just north of San Miguel, the northernmost region of the Paso Robles winegrowing appellation.

Temperature

The region is no stranger to 50 to 60 degree temperature swings within a 24 hour period during the summer. A typical day in at IVV begins with a light layer of early morning fog followed by the afternoon that can easily top the 95 degree mark. During the afternoon heat, the vines bask in the sun soaking up the energy needed to produce intensely flavored fruit. As evening approaches, a welcomed breeze sweeps through the vineyard, portending the cool temperatures the nightfall will bring.

Winter is completely different story. It is not uncommon for the thermometer to dip into the 20s, ushering the vines into dormancy by late November, rendering them cooperative for the winter pruning. These unique temperature swings are greater here than any other wine grape growing region in California.

Rainfall and soil

Along with the dramatic flux in temperature, rain is sparse and the soils poor. The vineyard receives an annual average rainfall of 12 inches. The soils of Indian Valley Vineyard are composed of quick draining clay loam, gravel and sandy loam. The fast draining soils combined with lack of adequate rain create good stress on the vines; too good in fact. Without some irrigation, the vines would not survive. Vineyard Manager, Dennis Brynes, carefully monitors the soil and can tell by a quick touch how much water the vines need to survive, to create intensely flavored fruit.

Planted varieties

Planted in 2000, the vineyard is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Ron and Dennis carefully researched the site to choose the specific clones and rootstock that would acclimate to the vineyard’s soils. The vineyard is planted to ten acres of Cabernet Sauvignon using Clone 7 and 15. The five acres of Cabernet Franc are Clone 332 and 312. Five acres of Merlot is planted to Clone 181.