Re: Generation
Farming with the next generation we are enhancing the natural regenerative processes that promote the integrative resilience and ecological diversity that keeps our land and our lives healthy. Spanning beyond sustainability, and with a generational perspective, we are farming to not just sustain but regenerate our land. Our farming practices are focused on sequestering carbon, building soil health, improving water holding capacity, and increasing biodiversity to support essential ecosystem functions for generations to come.
Rooted expression
Our dry-farmed grapes and wines have the ability to transport you to this coastal mountain vineyard set at a 2,400ft elevation above the fog line. Our wines yield a true expression of this place. You can taste the acidity of our timber soils, the freshness from our coastal influence, the brightness of the fruit flavors from our southern sun exposure all balanced with the complexity and minerality that our deeply rooted, non-irrigated vines capture.
From vine to wine
We grow various clones of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc. You can find our grapes in a variety of wines from the following California wineries:
• Bee Hunter
• Dancing Crow
• Darling
• Dogwood & Thistle
• ENA Winemakers
• La Rochelle
• Las Jaras
• Lussier Wine Co.
• Neal Family Vineyards
• Newton
• Seghesio
• Twelve Eleven
• Waits-Mast
• Windchaser
• Woodenhead
What the winemakers have to say about our grapes
“Mariah Vineyards is a true gem. The uniqueness of the vineyard is difficult to describe, instead it is felt. The cool ocean air, the fog, the sunshine and the sense of ‘green’, takes you to a place reminiscent of folktales from the Emerald Isle. The vines, (dry farmed and deep rooted), have evolved to match the site’s terroir, producing fruit of unbelievable quality that is truly unique.”
– Patrick Riggs, VP of Viticulture at Jack Neal and Son Vineyard Management
“At its 2,400 ft of elevation, Mariah Vineyards shines in its ability to express the sense of place through its wines. The Chardonnay we craft from here, grown following the regenerative approach, strikes me year after year for its purity and vibrancy.”
– Alberto Bianchi, Winemaker at Newton Vineyard
“Mariah Vineyards is a unique and enchanted place. Resting at 2,400 ft elevation above the fog line, and five miles from the coast, Mariah Vineyards offers a true cool climate, ideal for complex and expressive Pinot Noir. Following regenerative farming principles, the property is going beyond sustainability to establish balance and harmony in the vineyard, thus found in the grape’s expression. That is what we seek at ENA Wines! We have been working with Mariah Vineyards Pinot Noir since 2019, and are so impressed by the elegance, freshness, and vibrancy of the wines.”
– Eglantine Chauffour, Winemaker at ENA Wines
“Mariah is such a special site. The many factors include the rocky soil, high elevation, and proximity to the ocean, to name a few, which all add up to make this a premier site for translating terroir. Furthermore, and equally as important, the move to regenerative farming will preserve the site for generations to come as it further integrates as a vital supporting member of the surrounding ecosystem. What a place!”
– Tom Darling, Owner & Winemaker at Darling Wines
“What I enjoy about working with Zinfandel from Mariah Vineyards is that when you describe the location; high elevation, proximity to the coast, and the surrounding forest; I found myself working with a vineyard that was difficult to imagine what the wine would taste like in the end. As the wine ferments and develops, however, all of its attributes make perfect sense from its intensely concentrated wild berry and briary fruit, forest floor underbrush tannin structure and vibrant acidity, it truly captures its unique and beautiful environment.”
– Andy Robinson, Winemaker at Seghesio Family Vineyards
“Great, complex and age-worthy Pinot Noir must be grown in very unique conditions. Think of mushrooms and truffles. Only extremely rare conditions allow truffles to grow. They are extremely valuable due to their rarity and unequaled flavor. Pinot Noir has the ability to produce the widest variety of flavors of any wine grape. When allowed to reach full maturity, the balance of flavors, textures, and crisp acidity is sublime. There are only a handful of vineyards that can consistently create Pinot Noir that is as complex, unique and is as valuable as truffles. Mariah Vineyards is one of these rare vineyards. Mariah Vineyard is the poster child for great Pinot Noir from California.”
– Chuck Easley, Founder Co-owner Artisan Wines of California- La Rochelle Wines
“Mariah Vineyards presents the opportunity to pull identifiable fruit from a truly unique vineyard. The dry farming techniques and no till approach only added to the personality of the remote location, featuring a gently contoured plateau high in the coastal mountain range. It was refreshing to see relatively minimal input required to the vineyard, which showed a natural balance of fruit to canopy, with open and airy fruit zones and ample space between rows. We have found the resulting wine to have bright, pretty aromatics of red berries, spiced plum, and some pleasing floral notes. While the palate is elegant and focused it is evident that there is plenty to extract if you choose to do so. Our version shows a balance of fluid mouthfeel braced with fine tannins and acidity. Red berries continue to dominate, contrasted with savory elements of tea leaf and olive. I would recommend Mariah fruit, particularly to those seeking uniqueness and fruit that can be managed to create a variety of wine styles based around a cool climate model, without the overly risky nature of the variability of conditions inherent in most coastal sites.”
– Martin Mackenzie, Winemaker at Neal Family Vineyards
Collaborations
We are proud partners of Zero Foodprint’s initiative for collective climate action. Through donations across the food system Zero Foodprint funds regenerative farm projects that sequester carbon & build healthy soils resulting in better food, thriving farms and restored climate.
We are proud members of CAFF underlying our commitment to building a more sustainable food & farming system through resilient family farms, communities and ecosystems.
Mariah Vineyards is a member of our local Mendocino wine-growing community and committed to having a positive impact on the wine industry here in Mendocino County and beyond.
With the support of the Seeds for Bees® program we are enhancing & diversifying our cover crops to provide forage for bees – all while improving soil health, ecosystem function, and promoting sustainable farming practices. The seed mixes are designed to bloom at critical parts of the year, when natural forage is scarce, and pollinators need it most.
Aligned with the Monarch Joint Venture’s mission to protect monarchs and their migration, we are collaborating partners with MJV working on the creation and conservation of habitat that supports thriving monarch populations in our coastal mountain ecosystem.
We are thrilled to be a “Bee Friendly Vineyard” and support the important mission of creating a world where bees enrich our working landscapes and our lives. Working together we are creating a vibrant, biodiverse and resilient bee habitat buzzing with healthy bees that are coexisting with the wildlife in and around our vines.