Estate Spotlight
Published on February 19, 2025
In addition to sharing the wines, our biannual release periods provide us the opportunity to dig deeper into our farming and winegrowing practices and share more of our company ethos with our members. At the heart of our winegrowing journey is our Demeter certified Biodynamic Estate vineyard and farm outside Occidental.
Situated at 800 feet elevation just eight miles from the Pacific Ocean, the Estate is comprised of a unique tapestry of varietals all sharing the Sonoma Coast stage. The 2025 Spring Release includes three of these special selections.
In an area where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are typically favored, the Estate Riesling thrives in the cool maritime environment of the Sonoma Coast. An especially terroir-driven varietal, the 2023 Estate Riesling’s fragrant aromatics and sleek minerality reflect its unique origins. Now in its fifth vintage and carefully hand-harvested from only a single acre, the Riesling has become an integral part of the diverse varietal patchwork of the Estate.
If indeed we are most known for Pinot Noir, then the Belay is a true reflection of our dedication to this noble varietal. Being so well suited to the Sonoma Coast terroir, Pinot Noir was a natural addition to the Estate, planted not long after we acquired the property in 2012. Year after year, it becomes a deeper expression of both place and craft. Carefully nurtured from vine to bottle by our own hands, the 2022 Belay Estate Pinot Noir again captures the vibrant complexity this distinctive site exudes.
Dating back to the late 19th century, our Estate vineyard has a storied winemaking history, the evidence of which can be found in the old winery equipment still housed onsite (like the redwood tank pictured above). Planted in 1946, the Lemorel Zinfandel vines are another vestige of this history, having provided the cool-climate fruit for a number of other notable producers decades prior to our own stewardship of this land. Coastal Zinfandel is rare, and these gnarly, concentrated, 75-year-old vines are a testament to the specialness of this site.
Follow along with us on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK as we document our coastal winegrowing journey through the vineyard, farm, and cellar.
