Visiting Fairview Road Ranch

Even though I talk to my grape growers every couple of weeks, nothing beats going to visit them and walk the vineyard. On our way down to Santa Barbara for our anniversary weekend, Kiara and I visited Kirk Williams at Fairview Road Ranch in Santa Lucia Highlands (view photos).

Three years ago when I was looking for another Pinot Noir source (instead of Morelli Lane, I was introduced to Kirk Williams through two respected growers, Gary Franscioni (Garys' and Rosella's vineyards) and Joe Alarid (Tondre Grapefield). A leap of faith has resulted in solid performer and remains my (only) Pinot Noir source. (By the way, I came across a useful but counterintuitive 3-D vineyards map on a new (at least to me) Santa Lucia Highlands Appellation website.

I've had the great fortune to make Fairview Pinot since the its very first harvest- 2003, 2004, and currently in barrel, the 2005. Every year the vineyard seems to get better and better. The reason I named the 2003- The Great Promise was because I had tasted the 2004; I was amazed with the quality's quantum leap. As other people noted at Pinot Days, the 2005 continues that trajectory.

After visiting Kirk, Kiara and I got peek into why the Fairview Road Ranch gets better and better- the location, the soil, and the grower! Every two weeks, Kirk Williams' crew meticulously tends the vineyard. He's on a two week spraying schedule to minimize any powdery mildew. He even had the foresight to water the Pinot blocks last week for 8 hours/ 7 gals of water....and this weekend a 3 day heat wave hit.

Santa Lucia is known for its early aftenoon wind which cools down the grapes. Here is a great video showing the roaring wind (hence the name of Gary Franscioni's label ROAR):