Endeavour Vineyard began with the vision of the second-generation winery owners, Kim and Don, to create exceptional wines that define their varietal character and reflect the unique terroir of the Dry Creek Valley. In the mid-1990s, Don searched for nearly five years to find the perfect location to plant Cabernet Sauvignon in pursuit of this dream. Using an airplane and topographic maps, Don zeroed in on the Lytton Springs area as a possible location for a new vineyard. The combination of excellent soil conditions, drainage and sun exposure of this particular parcel were ideal.

In looking to develop a sustainable vineyard ecosystem, the amphitheater-style topography would allow for rain water sheet flow, which creates a natural pond and would give the vineyard its own water source. This essential component is the backbone of the closed loop system that the vineyard employs. During the rainy months, water is collected in the pond, the water then irrigates the vines as they grow if necessary, and then the vines transpire the water, releasing it to the atmosphere to be returned later as rainfall.

While Dry Creek Valley has become synonymous with exceptional Zinfandel, the Russian River Valley has made a name for itself for balanced and elegant interpretations of America’s varietal. Despite the popularity of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley, Zinfandel is actually the third most widely planted varietal in the region.

Located on a rolling plain, Farmhouse Vineyard has a gentle slope with rocky soil at the higher elevation, with clay and alluvial soils on the lower portion. The cooler climate of the Russian River Valley lends more fog and cloud cover than our home appellation, which in turn, results in a longer hang time for the grapes and preserves the natural acidity. The berries are smaller and more concentrated, hanging in loose clusters for even sun exposure. Fruit from this vineyard is typically picked early in the morning on two different days, depending on the sugar, acid and flavor.

One of our most historic properties, the Bullock House vineyard produced outstanding vintages of Reserve Merlot and single vineyard wines in its early years. Located right across the road from our family winery along the eastern bench of the valley, our estate DCV6 vineyard was specifically replanted to Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 2009 and 2010 to support our vision for producing delicious Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux varietals and Meritage blends.

The eastern bench is the broad, uplifted area at the base of the eastern ridge of Dry Creek Valley. The vineyards along this micro-region receive long days of full sun exposure. The soil is made up of decomposing sedimentary rock, which is loose, flaky, and well-draining. Fruit from this area produces a wine that is elegant and concentrated, reminiscent of the classical Bordeaux style of winemaking.

For nearly 50 years, Dry Creek Vineyard has been a leader in Sauvignon Blanc in California. Winery founder David Stare was the first person to plant the Sauvignon Blanc varietal in the Dry Creek Valley in our DCV3 Vineyard, against the advice of many viticultural experts. The Sonoma County Farm Advisor recommended that Dave plant Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir and Gamey Beaujolais on his property and was adamantly opposed to Dave planting Sauvignon Blanc, which was deemed inappropriate to the region. Thankfully Dave trusted his instincts, because Sauvignon Blanc is now the most widely planted white varietal in Dry Creek Valley.

After all this time, our DCV3 vineyard represents not only Dave’s pioneering spirit, but also the commitment to quality and innovation of his daughter Kim and her husband Don. The DCV3 vineyard is more than just dirt and vines – it is the heart and soul of our family winery. It exemplifies the French term of terroir, meaning the combination of soil, vines, climate and geography coming together to produce grapes of distinction.

Four Clones Vineyard sits along the edge of Lambert Bridge Road and Dry Creek Road, near the entrance to our family winery. For nearly a decade prior to planting this vineyard, we allowed these 4.4 acres to lay “fallow” – a farming term that essentially means unplanted or inactive. This gave the soil time to replenish itself naturally, an important and often overlooked step in the sustainable farming movement.

Planted in 2009, this traditional head-pruned, dry-farmed Zinfandel vineyard incorporates four distinct clones: Bradford Mountain, St. Peter’s Church, Primitivo, and DuPratt on St. George rootstock. Each of these clones provides a unique flavor profile to the wine. Primitivo, for example, tends to ripen more quickly and exudes juicy blackberry and dark fruit characters. St. Peter’s Church on the other hand tends to be a spicy grape, lending structure and tannin. Our desire is to preserve the heritage and authenticity of old vine vineyards for generations to come.