Volcanic Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

People said we were crazy when we first planted our Obsidian Ridge Vineyard over 20 years ago on an abandoned walnut orchard. A volcanic field at the Northern end of the Maycamas Mountain Range, the ridge is composed of solid black obsidian that once bubbled up like taffy.

You can't plant vines on pure obsidian boulders, they said. You'll get frosted out up there, they said. Well, maybe we are crazy. But two decades on, and through plenty of learning and element-grappling, we've found that the volcanics and altitude add a transcendental quality to our wines.

Intense UV rays, no water-retaining soils, and huge diurnal temperature swings result in fruit so small it resembles blueberries, with thick skins that add bold complexity, and acidity that gives freshness to our wines. The land features three climactic zones ranging from 2,300 to 2,875 feet elevation, each with a unique personality that builds complexity across the site.

It's also worth noting that we age our wines in barrels made from oak grown at our Hungarian cooperage - also located on a range of dormant volcanoes. From grape to barrel, our wines are truly "born on a volcano."