Bearing the legacy of four generations of citrus growers in Southern California, the Kraemer Family has found a new home in the Sierra Foothills to carry on our farming tradition. We discovered a beautiful, secluded ranch in Amador County, east of the old mining town Sutter Creek, with rocky soil full of potential and history. Italian immigrants originally settled the land in the 1870s; though missing the gold rush, they used the land to raise cattle and cleared sections for orchards, vegetables, olives and the first wine grapes on the property.

After a century as pastureland, we tilled the soil once again. Following the blueprints left by the first farmers, we divided the land into various small blocks around the pattern of the old oaks. We studied the rolling hills, noting the various soils and weather patterns of each area. This careful understanding of the various microclimates allowed great flexibility to pair each variety with its ideal location on the ranch: Barbera with western exposure for a little extra heat, Syrah on rockier soils to balance inherent vigor, and Tempranillo on a slope protected from the afternoon sun. Using this small block farming approach, we then matched each variety and site with its proper rootstock and spacing, allowing each vine to reach its unique potential.

We tend our grapes like any good parent, with loving tenderness and the minimal interference possible. We don’t force our vines to carry more crop than they can handle, encouraging instead strong, healthy, sustainable production of the highest quality. We use just enough organic fertilizer and compost to support natural growth and limit herbicide use to Roundup. We attack pesky insects with natural predators and net our vines before harvest to keep the birds from making a feast of our grapes.

We give our vines room to grow according to Mother Nature’s whims, expressing the subtle nuances of each microclimate, each variety, and each season. Our attention to detail and loving care raises grapes of unparalleled color, concentration, and complexity that taste of the rolling hills, the grand oaks, and the rocky soil itself .