Mercy Vineyards
About
With over half a century of combined experience in the wine-industry, vintners Mark Dirickson and Mike Kohne established Mercy Vineyards to produce Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah from the Arroyo Seco growing region of Monterey County. The company sources fruit from distinguished vineyard sites in the dried Riverbed corridor, and the wines are made by renowned winemaker Alan Phillips. Through the millennia, Man's quixotic attempt to produce the finest wines has borne an unyielding Truth: The Vine is always at the Mercy of Mother Nature. Mercy Vineyards represents a pursuit to showcase the innate spirit of Monterey County's Arroyo Seco AVA as one of the preeminent locales for the cultivation of world-class Burgundian varietals, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Location Description
Located in the heart of Pebble Beach, California.
Features
- The cultivation of world-class Burgundian varietals.
Additional Information
- Meeting / Conference Facilities:
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- Dog Friendly:
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Winemaker
In the mid-nineties Alan, who enjoys the glories of well-grown and well-made Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, took the position of Winemaker and General Manager at Byington Winery, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Then, a couple of years later in 1998, he was lured to Santa Barbara County to be Director of Winemaking and General Manager of Foley Estates and Lincourt Vineyards. Alan worked for Foley and Lincourt, as well as a growing portfolio of other properties, for 10 years before departing in 2008. He presently makes wine for Mercy as well as his own family winery Fontes & Phillips.
Practices & Techniques
Estate Vineyards / AVA
Zabala Vineyard:
Dating back to the Spanish Land Grant, the Zabala family has owned and farmed their property for seven generations. The property encompasses much of the Arroyo Seco "Riverbed" and is known for its meager, granite cobblestone-bed surface soil. Vines were first planted in 1972 and the vineyard is home to many different varietals. Mercy Vineyards sources Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah from the Zabala Vineyard.
Cedar Lane Vineyard:
Located against and somewhat sheltered by a natural bench, a 40-foot palisade of bedrock along it's northern boarder, this 60-acre vineyard is owned by Mark Chesebro and farmed by Michael Griva. Found at the base of the Santa Lucia Mountains the sand as well as shale and granite cobblestone topsoil are meager with little nutrients, ultimately helping to diminish yields. The vineyard is planted to multiple varietals, including 7 different clones of Pinot Noir of which Mercy Vineyards sources two ("Pommard" clone 4 and clone 667).
Griva Vineyard:
For six generations, since 1868, the Griva family has been farming on the Central Coast. The current vineyard property was purchased by the family in 1905. Comprised of alluvial soils - rock, gravel and sand - the property is located in the heart of the Arroyo Seco AVA. Planted to appropriate varietals, the vines date back to 1998. Managed by owner Michael Griva, Mercy Vineyards enjoys sourcing both Chardonnay (Robert Young and Dijon 76 clones) and Pinot Noir ("Pommard" clone 4, "Martini" clone 13, "La Tache" as well as clones 667 and 777) from the Griva family.