D&D Ranch

AVA

Alexander Valley

Decade

1920s

County

Sonoma

Current Owner

Stan Buchignani

Planted by

Stan Buchignani

Location Notes

25845 Dutcher Creek Road, Cloverdale

Wineries

Ridge Vineyards

Historical Producers

Gallo

Characteristics

Cherry fruit, earthy, mineral, full-bodied.

Description

From the Ridge Vineyards’ website:

“Stan Buchignani’s ranch is located on Dutcher Creek Road, in the hills on the far western edge of the Alexander Valley appellation. The majority of the vineyard’s carignane was planted in the 1940s. Stan’s grandfather, Dominico Cerruti, planted the first block in 1927; his father, Dino, planted the last in the early 1950s. The vineyard’s climate bears a strong resemblance to that of upper Dry Creek Valley three miles to the south, where days are warm. Fog, which tends to hang low in the valley, burns off sooner in the hills. Carignane from Buchignani is complex, its fine structure much like that of a field-blend zinfandel.

[There are] 13.2 acres of carignane, 5.7 acres of zinfandel, 1.3 acres of mixed zinfandel and carignane.

Benchland: clay loam with stones and gravel, highly weathered, limited topsoil.

Front of ranch: gray gravelly clay loam.

Head trained (no trellis), spur pruned. 2-3 tons per acre.”

 

 

 

Submitted by

David Gates

Certified