Eaglepoint Vineyards’ 82-acre vineyard sits in the middle of nearly three square miles of upland range and timberland. Thirty-one separate blocks, six different varieties, and numerous exposures and trellis systems all at high elevation (1,800 ft.) make for very intense farming.
The ranch’s mountain soils are a key aspect of the Eaglepoint story. Moderately fertile decomposed sandstone is the primary feature, with numerous veins of “timber red” loams as well as upland pasture soil types. In these soils, the Eaglepoint vines – like those in many of the great European vineyards – lead a challenged existence. Crop load is kept at moderate levels either naturally or by manual thinning, yielding fruit with extreme concentration and intense varietal character.
Back in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Eaglepoint included blocks of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, but the vineyard is now home exclusively to red-grape varieties. Continued grafting and more recent plantings have concentrated on the Rhone varieties, including Syrah and Grenache, as well as their Rhone cousin Petite Sirah. Other varieties planted on the ranch include Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon.