The Morisoli Vineyard is situated along Niebaum Lane in Rutherford, California, just west of Highway 29 in the center of the historic Rutherford Bench. The contiguous, 53-acre vineyard sits at the base of Mt. St. John, planted in alluvial soils, which have been slowly eroded from the Mayacamas mountain range. This small patch of land became home to the first-generation of Morisolis in 1902 when they settled there to begin farming grapes and start a family. These well-drained, gravelly bale-clay and pleasanton-loam soils have consistently yielded wines of great complexity, firm tannins, and abundant fruit flavors.
VINES & FARMING
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Morisoli Vineyard, Rutherford AVA. The vines are all bilateral, cordon trained and were planted in 1992 on Clone 7/8 using 110R & 1103P rootstocks. The vineyard is farmed by the Morisoli Family as it has been since 1902. Gary, Melody, and their son Chris Morisoli use original tractors and vintage implements to farm the old way. A French plow is used to kill weeds around the vines instead of using sprays, and the vineyard is disced regularly to maintain moisture in the soil. Irrigation is used sparingly during the summer to maintain vine health during heat spells. Harvest is completed in the early morning by hand using the same crew, year to year. Cover crops of plow-down legumes (Sweet Peas, Vetch and Fava Beans) are planted to return nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil every year after harvest and sub-soil ripping.
Plinio Mario (PM) Block – 18 Acres. Named for the second-generation who worked this vineyard for over 70 years. Plinio’s block was the original 10 acre block purchased in 1910, then expanded to 18 acres in 1934. It is currently producing Clone 4 Cabernet Sauvignon on O39-16 rootstock and was replanted between 1994 and 1996. It is set in 8’ rows by 6’ vine spacing and bilaterally cordon trained. Current Producers: Amici Cellars, Orin Swift, Elyse Winery, Beaulieu Vineyards.
Zieger Block – 10 Acres. Named for the last owner, Richard Zieger who owned the property from 1939 until his death in 1991. Then purchased and replanted by Gary Morisoli in 1992, it is currently producing Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon on 110R and 1103P rootstock. It is set in 8’ rows and 6’ (1103P) and 8’ (110R) vine spacing. Current Producers: Morisoli Vineyard, Etude Winery, Sequoia Grove, Trujillo Wines.
Zieger Zinfandel – 7 Acres. Planted by Gary Morisoli for Richard Zieger in 1985. These vines are vertically trained, planted on a mixture of St. George and AXR rootstock and set in 8’ rows and 8’ vine spacing. This section of vineyard was one of the sources for the original Prisoner red blend by Dave Phinney of Orin Swift. Current Producers: Elyse Winery, Biale Vineyards.
Old Block – 2 Acres. Last remaining section of the original vineyard. Originally planted in 1880’s, it fell victim to Phylloxera in and was replanted between 1902-1910. It is spaced at 7’x7’ planting, head trained, cross cultivated and dry farmed. Approximately 30-40% of the original planting is still producing and includes an incredible field blend of; Alicante bouschet, Carignan, Durif, Grand noir de la Calamette, Muscat Hamburg, Negrette, Syrah, Valdiguie, and Zinfandel all on St. George rootstock. This vineyard was cataloged and sampled in 2001 by Jean Michel-Boursiquot, ampelographer and Director of ENTAV, France. He estimated the original cuttings came from the Inglenook “Gate Vineyard” which has long been replaced. The cuttings taken and re-propagated by UC Davis Foundation Plant Material Sciences, were cleaned of viruses and now are available as the “Morisoli Clone.” Current Producer: Jacob Franklin
Philip Old Block – 10 Acres. Named for the third-generation who purchased a 17 acre section from Lowell Edington on Manley Lane. He then sold this block to Gary Morisoli in 1987. It is currently producing Clone 4 Cabernet Sauvignon on 110R rootstock and was planted in 1990. It is set in 10’ rows by 6’ vine spacing and bilaterally cordon trained. Current Producers: V. Sattui, Orin Swift
Philip New Block – 7 Acres. Newest replanting of the 17 acre block. This section of vineyard was redeveloped in 2017 and is planted to Clone 4, 7 & 8 on O39-16 rootstock. It is set on 8’ rows by 6’ vine spacing and is bilaterally cordon trained. Current Producers: Elyse Winery, Amici Cellars, Etude Winery
SINGLE VINEYARD WINE PRODUCERS
We pride ourselves on long-lasting relationships with wineries who have purchased our fruit for years. Exceptional quality and attention to detail are fundamental to every ton of grapes we send to wineries. Less than two percent of our grapes are made into our estate grown wines. Visit these producers and see what makes them special and why we enjoy working with them.
Blockbuster wines made by Tony Biagi and Dante West. Amici makes an exceptional Morisoli single vineyard wine, which every year regularly receives the highest acclaims from discerning wine critics.
Bob Biale and David Natali craft beautiful, true to varietal wines including a single vineyard Morisoli Zinfandel from our Zieger block. They sell out fast and are typically only released to club members.
Our longest winery partnership. Each year since 1987 Elyse has made a Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon single vineyard wine from Morisoli Vineyard. Crafted by winemaker Russell Bevan, these wines are powerful and exquisitely made.
Etude produces an exceptional Morisoli single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Jon Priest. His wines are lauded as elegant & refined and score very high points with multiple wine critics. Our relationship has gone back to the early 90’s with Etude, originally selling grapes to and working closely with owner and winemaker, Tony Soter.
Jacob Franklin holds an honored place in our vineyard and family. Every year since 1987, Jake Coursen and his family have made wine from Morisoli Vineyard. Jake currently makes this delicious wine from the historic 110 year “Old Block” field blend. This wine is extremely limited and Jake is the only winemaker to make wine from this most treasured, two acre section of vines.
Every year since 1994, Michael Trujillo, Molly Hill and now Jesse Fox created an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon from Morisoli Vineyard. This beautiful showing of wine is only accessible to wine club members, or directly from the tasting room.
Previously the head winemaker at Sequoia Grove, Mike Trujillo now makes wine under his own label. Since working with Morisoli Vineyard in the early 1990’s, Mike understands the intricacies of the vineyard and creates an exceptional single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon yearly.
One of our longest grape purchasing partners, V. Sattui Winery makes an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon from the Morisoli Vineyard. Winemaker Brooks Painter ensures great attention to detail to create a fantastic and powerful wine year after year.
