Church Block Vineyard

AVA

Lodi

Decade

1930s

County

San Joaquin

Sub-Appellation

Mokelumne River

Current Owner

Gina & Mike Granlees

Location Notes

The vineyard is located east of the former Borra Vineyards Tasting Room on 1441 E Armstrong Road.

Wineries

Markus Wine Co. is exclusively managing and using the grapes for their old vine blends.

Historical Producers

There are no records of when exactly the vineyard was planted. The block was donated to the Catholic church in the 1960s. Steve Borra purchased this old block from the church in the early 1970s before he opened the first boutique winery in Lodi in 1976. Steve Borra Jr confirmed that when his father purchased the block the vines already looked old and gnarly.

The grapes were used mostly in the Heritage Field blend produced by Borra Vineyards since the early 2000s.

Characteristics

We have experienced bright red fruit character in the Carignan and dark fruit components in the Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. These old vines are producing smaller berries and they hold their acidity perfectly.

Description

This 1.5 acre vineyard was planted in the late 1930s on its own rootstock. The vineyard site is mostly sandy loam. It is a field blend of approximately one-third Petite Sirah, one-third Carignan, and one-third Alicante Bouschet. It is a slow ripening vineyard and production is around only 3 tons/acre.

Submitted by

Markus Niggli – Markus Wine Co.

Certified