More than just a vineyard, Eaglepoint Ranch is an experiment in viticulture techniques and range management. The 82-acre vineyard sits in the middle of nearly three square miles of upland range and timberland. Thirty-one separate blocks, six different varieties, and numerous exposures and trellis systems all at high elevation (1,800 ft.) make for very intense farming.

The ranch's mountain soils are a key aspect of the Eaglepoint story. Moderately fertile decomposed sandstone is the primary feature, with numerous veins of "timber red" loams as well as upland pasture soil types. In these soils, the Eaglepoint vines - like those in many of the great European vineyards - lead a challenged existence. Cropload is kept at moderate levels either naturally or by manual thinning, yielding fruit with extreme concentration and intense varietal character.

Elevation is another important ingredient at Eaglepoint. Inland Mendocino can be very hot in the summertime, with temperatures in the Ukiah Valley regularly soaring to over 100 degrees. But up at Eaglepoint, the high is usually 5-8 degrees cooler. And even when the mercury does approach the century mark at the ranch, it doesn't remain there for long as late-afternoon breezes bring cooling air. The result is that the vines rarely shut down due to heat stress. In the spring, meanwhile, cold air rolls down the mountainside, providing natural protection against frost.

Back in the late '70s and early '80s, Eaglepoint included blocks of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, but the vineyard is now home exclusively to red-grape varieties. Continued grafting and more recent plantings have concentrated on the Rhone varieties, including Syrah and Grenache, as well as their Rhone cousin Petite Sirah. Other varieties planted on the ranch include Zinfandel, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.

John Scharffenberger and Casey Hartlip's dedication to the land extends beyond the vineyard to the entire property. Reforestation, soil conservation and preserving native habitat are more than projects - they're a way of life at Eaglepoint Ranch.

When the work in the vineyard slows, you'll find our crews thinning conifers, removing fallen and damaged hardwoods and planting fir, cedar and big leaf maples. Soil erosion is a huge concern for mountain vineyards, and Eaglepoint crews have built siltation dams and installed countless rolls of drain tile, preparing the vineyard for each winter's rains.