Buchignani Ranch

History

Stan Buchignani’s ranch is located on Dutcher Creek Road, in the hills on the far western edge of the Alexander Valley appellation. The majority of the vineyard’s carignane was planted in the 1940s. Stan’s grandfather, Dominico Cerruti, planted the first block in 1927; his father, Dino, planted the last in the early 1950s. The vineyard’s climate bears a strong resemblance to that of upper Dry Creek Valley three miles to the south, where days are warm. Fog, which tends to hang low in the valley, burns off sooner in the hills. Carignane from Buchignani is complex, its fine structure much like that of a field-blend zinfandel.

Location

Northwestern edge of the Alexander Valley appellation, in the hills bordering upper Dry Creek Valley.

Grape Varieties

13.2 acres of carignane, 5.7 acres of zinfandel, 1.3 acres of mixed zinfandel and carignane.

Soils

Benchland: clay loam with stones and gravel, highly weathered, limited topsoil. Front of ranch: gray gravelly clay loam.

Training & Yields

Head trained (no trellis), spur pruned. 2-3 tons per acre