Despite being the smallest AVA in America, Cole Ranch provides a wide array of varietals for its owners, the Sterling family of Esterlina Winery.
Cole Ranch (AVA)
The Tiniest Appellation in the US:
Diversity in the Cole Ranch AVA
The soils on the 60 acres of planted property are very diverse, making the tiny appellation ideal for a range of vines.
by
Laura Ness
March 9, 2007
At one-quarter square mile, it’s by far the smallest appellation in the country. Perched at 1400 to 1600 feet elevation along the winding Highway 253 in
Mendocino County, the Cole Ranch Appellation was carved out by former owner John Cole in May of 1983, a full four months before the
Anderson Valley received its official AVA status. He felt that the soils and elevation of this sweet piece of oak-studded land was worth the BATF paperwork, and heck, they weren’t all that busy at the time anyhow. Some people will do anything to get their name on a map.
A retired engineer (like so many in the wine business), Cole thought the idea of planting vineyards would be quite romantic. One has to admit that he chose a romantic and idyllic spot, indeed. The views are charming from every angle: it looks off to the Hopland hills and Russian River Valley to the east, and to the Anderson Valley and patiently awaiting Pacific ocean to the west. To the south, more mountains towards Guerneville, and to the north, the seemingly unending semi-virgin redwood forests of Humboldt County dominate, where the Redwood Valley vineyards give way to higher altitudes, and, perhaps, attitudes.
Just a quarter square mile in size, the Cole Ranch AVA (the blue dot) is the smallest appellation in the U.S.
Here at Cole Ranch, climate and soils have converged in a unique microclimate suited to a variety of grapes. Cole planted the varieties he liked to drink:
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay,
Merlot, and fortunately for all of us,
Riesling. He had himself a fine time making his own wine for personal consumption, but for the most part, sold the fruit to neighboring wineries like Fetzer in nearby Hopland, as well as to V. Sattui in Napa and Jordan in Alexander Valley, Blackstone of Monterey, Vision Cellars, Tobin James in Paso Robles, and Handley Cellars in Anderson Valley. Indeed, the Fetzers did admirably with the Cabernet from this property, taking Gold medals in the prestigious Sacramento State Fair in both 1984 and 1985 for the Fetzer Private Reserve Cabernets from Cole Ranch fruit.
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