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Although Mazzocco is a small family-owned winery, our vineyard sources are among the best in the world. Most of Mazzocco’s grapes come from owners Ken and Diane Wilson’s diverse Wilson Family Estate Vineyards in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. These valleys are renowned for producing superior quality fruit. The Wilsons are stewards to more than 2,000 acres, of which 250 acres are planted to wine grapes. Antoine Favero, our winemaker, works closely with Ken and his vineyard manager, plus our other growers, monitoring the grapes throughout the growing season and providing valuable input on yields and optimal picking time. Diversity is the key element that defines the Wilson Family Estate Vineyards. The vineyard locations range from loamy valley floor to rugged benchland to remote rocky mountain elevations of up to 2400 feet.
Rootstock is matched to specific soil types and moisture levels. Vine growth is observed daily, and minimal irrigation is used to control canopy growth and limit berry size. This increases the skin-to-juice ratio, which results in greater intensity in the wine. Several types of trellising are used to take advantage of the various sun exposures in the vineyards. This provides the greatest diversity of flavors for blending. The optimal goal for sun exposure is to create a “dappled sunlight” effect that prevents sunburn yet allows perfect ripening. To balance vine vigor against the amount of fruit, vines are thinned and all secondary growth is removed. Green berries are dropped at 95% veraison* to encourage even ripening. We typically harvest in October, individually harvesting each vineyard block. The blocks are kept separate through fermentation and aging to achieve the fullest expression of their individual personalities and offer the greatest flexibility in blending. Each vineyard and block expresses a unique character, microclimate and a distinctive profile of aromas and flavors. To share this expression, we often produce small bottlings from several distinctive vineyards rather than blend multiple vineyards together. Although this is more labor-intensive, it is in keeping with our goal to produce the most luscious, elegant yet powerful wines possible. *Veraison is the point in the growing season when ripening grapes begin to soften and change color from green to either red or yellow. |
We produce wines from the following Wilson Family Estate Vineyards: Warm Springs Ranch Smith Orchard West Dry Creek Vineyard Hale’s Vineyard Cloverdale Vineyard Sustainable Farming Since 1988, the Wilson family has maintained sustainable farming practices. With a keen sense of stewardship, they maintain a variety of cover crops to replenish the land, combat erosion, control vine vigor and discourage weeds. In addition, composts from the byproducts of winemaking and farming are used to restore the land. Mazzocco Winery adheres to natural solutions to natural problems. Cover crops planted between rows of vines return nutrients to the soil, improve soil structure, prevent erosion and provide habitat for beneficial insects. Drip irrigation delivers a measured amount of water to each individual vine, thereby reducing overall water usage. If we want to add a nutrient, it can be deposited precisely with the water flow rather than scattered from a tractor. Rodents and insects are a problem in any garden, and so it is in the vineyards. We invite predators like hawks and owls who prey on the rodents to set up housekeeping.
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Purchase Wine | Join Our Wine Club | Contact Us | Trade & Media | Privacy Policy | Site Map PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB SCHEID (415)710-9877 |
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To ensure our wines express the specific characteristics and many nuances of the distinct winegrowing blocks, Wilson Family Estate Vineyards cultivate its vines for low, intense yields. This is accomplished in a variety of ways including trellising, conservative pruning and individualized canopy management.