Coates Vineyards

Coates Vineyards
3255 Red Cap Road
Orleans, California
USA 95556
Phone: 1.530.627.3369
http://www.coatesvineyards.com/

Contact: Norman Coates
Email: [email protected]

Coates Vineyards is located within the Six River National Forest near the very small community of Orleans in Northern California and was started by Norman Coates, owner, winemaker, and vineyard manager in 1991 with the planting of the first of five vineyards. Before the vineyards were established, a wide variety of organically grown fruits and vegetables had been farmed on this land by Norman Coates under the trade name of Gem of the River Produce. Gem of the River organic produce has been grown here and at two other nearby farms by Norman Coates for the past 30 years and shipped to local organic markets, farmers markets, and organic wholesalers throughout the United States.

The first vineyard was planted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Sangiovese from cuttings that were brought here from organic vineyards in Sonoma County, CA. The cuttings were rooted in nursery beds and then planted out in the vineyard rows the following spring. The vineyards here have the luxury of being established on their own roots instead of being grafted onto disease resistant rootstocks for the simple reason that Orleans is far away from the large grape growing areas where diseases are prevalent. Grapevines on their own rootstocks are generally more healthy, vigorous, and the grapes can better express their varietal characters. Over a 6 year period, additional Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Sangiovese vineyards were planted along with Merlot, Syrah, and Petite Sirah. There are now 17 acres producing CCOF Certified, USDA Organic Grapes.

The winery was bonded with the first harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1996 with 120 cases. Since then it has grown to accommodate a 3,000 case per year production and become a USDA approved, Certified Organic winery. The winery uses state of the art wine making equipment which insures the vigorous process control required to produce quality wines without the use of sulfites, ph adjustments, filtering and fining. The wines are aged in French and American oak barrels and temperature controlled cellars for 2-3 years. The wines are then blended and bottled with the best bottling equipment available using nitrogen throughout its process to protect the wine from oxidation.

Winemaker: Norman Coates

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