Highlands Bench

Our Highlands Bench Pinot Noir comes from the Costa Vineyard, just west of the Soledad Mission in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey. We were invited to partner with the Costa family to establish a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyard in 2008 on the family property. We participated in soil evaluation, vineyard layout, and clone and rootstock selection, ultimately choosing the highest elevations and most gravelly soils for Pinot Noir planting. The vines are spaced at five feet within the row and eight and a half feet between rows. The close proximity to Monterey Bay, the eastern slope and aspect, and the elevation above the valley floor provide a cool, sunny and ideal environment for growing intensely flavored Burgundian varietals.