Twomey Cellars has purchased one of Anderson Valley’s most sought-after vineyards for Pinot Noir, the 17-acre Monument Tree Vineyard.
So-named because of the imposing lightning-struck redwood tree that guards the hillside vineyard, Monument Tree is the main source of the Twomey Cellars Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, as well as critically-acclaimed wines from producers such as Copain Wines, Drew and Couloir Wines.
As key component of Twomey’s portfolio, the vineyard is featured on a new Google Earth video narrated by Twomey winemaker Ben Cane, posted at www.twomeycellars.com/videos/vineyardtour.
“Monument Tree is one of the best-known and highly-regarded vineyards in Anderson Valley,” said David R. Duncan, Managing Partner of Twomey Cellars and President and CEO of Silver Oak Cellars. “When our family was presented with the opportunity to acquire the site, we thought it was almost too good to be true.”
The vineyard is located only 12 miles from the Pacific coast at the western end of Anderson Valley in California’s Mendocino County.
“Monument Tree Vineyard is the kind of site you dream about when you love Pinot Noir,” says Twomey winemaker Ben Cane. “It is situated in the ‘deep end’ of Anderson Valley, west of Ferrington and Savoy Vineyards, where we also source fruit for our Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Monument Tree’s proximity to the coast allows for a longer ripening period to develop more complexity in the fruit. Its northeastern exposure gives it plenty of sunshine in the morning, but keeps it cool through the afternoon. This vineyard is planted to a selection of Dijon clones on decomposed sandstone loam soils; it’s the ultimate low vigor. slow-ripening vineyard.”
In conjunction with the Monument Tree acquisition, Twomey has posted what may be the only narrated video using Google Earth to indicate vineyard sourcing on its Web site. Cane’s voice takes the viewer to all of Twomey’s vineyard sources – starting from the winery home in Healdsburg up to Anderson Valley and Monument Tree Vineyard, across to the Sonoma Coast and down into Santa Barbara County – for a quick but fascinating look at the geologic and climatic factors that affect vineyard location and terrain, farming, and ultimately grape quality.
“This is a way to bring these incredible vineyards to life, to demonstrate what makes them so special and unique,” said Cane. “It was great fun to make.”
Twomey Cellars was founded in 1999 by the Duncan Family of Silver Oak Cellars, with the same philosophy that has guided Silver Oak since 1982: make food-friendly wines that are deliciously drinkable upon release. Twomey has two wineries, one in Calistoga (Napa Valley) for Merlot and one in Healdsburg (Sonoma County) designed for Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
