Vineyard & Truffiere
From the beginning, our aim has been to farm sustainably and be a steward of the land. Of our 200 acre property, we have 80 acres open for wildlife and conservation efforts. In 2017 and 2018 we planted twenty two blocks on hillsides ranging from 1200′ to 1320′ in high densities. This forces each plant to compete more for nutrients and water, therefore decreasing the yield for each vine. The result is fewer total clusters per plant and while producing a higher quality, more concentrated fruit. For each block, we chose the grape variety that would produce the best fruit for that unique location. From there, we decided one what kind of rootstock, spacing, trellising, and orientation would lead to the best expression of our unique terroir.
Our vineyard soils are mainly made up of the Linne-Calodo soil complex, which is mineral rich, shallow, and well-draining. Its calcareous composition is reminiscent of the soils of the Rhône Valley in France.
In 2015, we were approached with the opportunity to farm truffles with the world’s leading truffle scholar, Pierre Sourzat. With so many vines, olive trees, and nut trees in the area, we decided to bring some crop diversity and intrigue to our property by planting over 2,200 oak trees inoculated with spores of Tuber melanosporum, known as the Perigord Black truffle.
We currently farm ten acres for our truffle program. Each winter, we have specially trained dog come to hunt for the elusive black truffle. Once harvested, we sell to local and regional restaurants as well as our wine club members.
Pierre Sourzat
Pierre SOURZAT, Internationally recognized Truffle Expert, was the Principal Engineer (retired scientist) for the Lot Department (France) and the Director of the Truffle Research Centre of Cahors (France) until 2016. He was the President of the IWEMM8 Congress in Cahors (France), in October 2016. He is the author or co-author of many publications and books on truffle cultivation, for example the “Short Guide ot Truffle Cultivation” (2015), “Truffe et Trufficulture” (Truffle and Truffle cultivation) (1997, 2002, 2012, 2018), “Truficultura. Fundamentos y téchnicas” (published in Spain in 2007). He is continuing to do conferences on the truffle and its cultivation in France, Spain, Italia, USA, China, South Africa and Chile. Furthermore, he is the editor of the French national issue: Le TRUFFICULTEUR (the truffle grower).