About Vineyards

The fruit for the Praxis wines is sourced from all over California in order to maintain quality at a relatively reasonable price. The vineyards are also located where Bill believes the varietal will best express its own characteristics – the right soils and climates for the vines. Most of the wines are from a single vineyard; all of them are 100% of the varietal.

Rose: The Syrah grapes are grown in the same vineyard as our Merlot - in the heart of the Alexander Valley.

Viognier: This is our seventh vintage from the same vineyard in Lodi. Although we are Sonoma County based, the warmth of the growing conditions there are closer to the climatic conditions of the Southern Rhone Valley in France – the source of this ancient varietal. Bill feels the Viognier grapes need more heat than we can get in Sonoma County to fully develop their varietal characteristics. These are the Geneva clone of Viognier which impart less floral aromas and more flavors of peaches and apricot to the wine. For those unfamiliar with Viognier, we feel it has the best characteristics of a Chardonnay and a Riesling or Gewürztraminer in one! The wine is fruity but dry with flavors of pears and nectarines.

Pinot Noir:  We began the Praxis line of wines in 2000 with a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir and have been searching for specific clones grown in Monterey ever since. Since the 2005 vintage, Bill has had those clones (667 and 777) from the appellation he wanted. The wine is elegant and balanced with aromas of bing cherry, violets, leather and coffee.  The vineyard is just south and east of Santa Lucia Highlands.

Merlot & Rose: These grapes are grown on a small rise in the heart of the Alexander Valley. Bill feels he can make a merlot that tastes like something from these grapes – not just a generic red wine.  We also get our Syrah grapes for the Dry Rose from this old friend of Bill's.

Lagrein: These grapes come from what we beleive was the first American Lagrein vineyard in the US.  They are over 20 years old at an elevation of 1800 feet near Santa Maria.