Crist Family Vineyard

Crist Estate in Carmel Valley, I planted the vineyard in 1997.  The vineyard is located on a south facing slope behind our home and consists of approximately 1,100 vines.  The combination of the micro climate and the rocky hillside was ideal for my passion for Bordeaux style wines.  We planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot grapes on engineered  root stock four feet on center with five foot rows running across the hillside for maximum sun exposure.  Each year I bring in a crew to help prune, leaf pull and shoot prune.  I like to keep the production low with two shoots per spur and no more than two clusters per shoot.  This promotes intense flavors and even ripening of the fruit.