Clay Mauritson discusses what separates the Rockpile AVA from other appellations

Clay Mauritson, winemaker at Mauritson Family Winery, marvels at the numerous incredible attributes of the Rockpile AVA. His family owns and farms 34 acres there. Rockpile's hillsides provide excellent sun exposure and slopes, while the soil diversity (17 different types of loam soils as well as volcanic soils), make the grapes work harder. Clay finds the moderate temperatures a huge boon -- generally during the day, the region is five to seven degrees cooler than Dry Creek Valley but in the evening it is five to seven degrees warmer. It's all about the moderating influence of water. The Pacific Ocean is 12 miles away, and horseshoe-shaped Lake Sonoma surrounds Rockpile on three sides, keeping the climate level and free of fog. All of these combined conditions make for what Clays calls "absolutely the perfect pedigree for growing grapes."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• wine
• Sonoma
• Rockpile
• loam soil
• Mauritson Family Winery
• Clay Mauritson
• winemaking