Vineyards

With its unique production conditions in the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand has reinvented itself to become world famous since the 1980s for its vibrant, intense wines, particularly its Sauvignon Blanc whites and Pinot Noir reds. (from sogrape)

Area

3.5 hectares of vineyards

Grape varieties

Baga, Syrah, Tempranilho, Caladoc, Alicante Bouschet, Merlot, Touriga Nacional, and Maria Gomes

Geology

Located right on Oak Creek. Sandy clay-loam river sediment sits on a bed of volcanic rock with peppered calcareous sediments derived from a larger geologic structure called the Verde formation. (For the geeks-The vineyard contains two soil series. The slightly sloped NE portion is within the Beaver Creek series, with a gravelly sandy loam on the surface. A gravellier loam, derived from basalt, directly underlies the surface before bedrock is encountered at 32″ depth. The lower portion of the vineyard is a member of the Guest Clay series. A three-inch layer of clay graduates to a silty clay loam before reaching shallow bedrock.) This site also hosts our Merkin Vineyards Orchard and Garden produce used at the Merkin Osteria in Old Town Cottonwood and Caduceus Cellars Tasting Room in Jerome, AZ. Spacing is 6′ by 8′ and generally cropped at about 2 to 2.5 tons per acre.

Chalenges

Spring frost, Extreme summer heat & humidity, Monsoon rains from veraison through harvest.