Location and Appellation
Kamen Estate is located at elevations reaching 1100' to 1450' in the southwestern Mayacamas Range, where some of the most sought after Cabernet Sauvignon in California is grown. The official appellation is Sonoma Valley, a smaller sub-appellation of Sonoma County. More specifically, the vineyards are on the southwestern slopes of Mt. Veeder, with the Napa County line less than a quarter of a mile away.

Kamen Estate Vineyards
Thirty six acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and the blending varieties of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are organically farmed by Phil Coturri along the contours of hillsides where slopes often exceed 40% grade. A few acres of Syrah in four separate blocks have been planted and are expected to yield about 8 to 9 tons when in full production. This terrain was formed by ancient volcanic activity and the soils are geologically diverse, providing a complex range of growing conditions within a single vine row. Yields never reach more than a scarce 1.5 tons, per acre, due to the extremely rocky environment and the viticultural practice of dropping fruit for maximum flavor and concentration. Hallmarks of the weather during the growing season are cool, foggy mornings followed by very hot afternoons. The San Pablo Bay opens just below and brings in cool air during the heat of the summer. It also pulls in winter storms carrying rains that replenish the water table. The microclimate, classified as a mid-Region III in the U. C. Davis heat summation system, is very similar to the Rutherford Bench.

Water
A 600' deep well that pumps more than 150 gallons a minute is supplemented by a 3 ½ acre pond. Vines are watered through a drip irrigation system and are micro-managed according to soil depths. Managed watering creates a uniformity of ripeness and reduces any vegetative characteristics caused by over vigor.

Cover Crops
From its inception, the vineyard has been farmed using only organic methods and is officially certified as such by the state of California. Farming practices include the planting of beneficial cover crops between the vine rows including legumes, mustard and oats. Composting compounds with manure bolster the soil. The governing philosophy guiding the farming practices is simple. "Take care of the dirt and the dirt will take care of you."

Terrain
The single most important aspect of this mountainous terrain is its extremely rocky soils with stone outcroppings throughout. Geologic records reveal that four different lava flows went through this area resulting in extreme soil variations and depth from one end of a vine row to the other. With the shallow depth of soils and prevalence of rock, the vines fight for survival, creating intense fruit.

Phil Coturri, Viticulturist

Viticulturist
Phil Coturri, a pioneer of organic viticulture, has been overseeing the Kamen Estate vineyards since Robert Kamen purchased the property in l980. Born and raised in Sonoma County, Phil is a highly regarded Viticulturist with over thirty-five years experience with top quality northern California vineyards.