Winemaker Note
Our first trip to Lost Slough Vineyard felt like a mission. After a long drive toward Sacramento, we reached District 17, deep in the inner Delta, then crossed four bridges and the Sacramento River by ferry, winding for miles along levee roads into the outer Delta. This vast landscape of historic farms and small towns dates back to the Gold Rush and railroad era. Lost Slough sits on McCormack Tract, established in the 1930s, and—remarkably—lies below sea level, protected by an intricate levee system. The soils are Egbert series: rich, alluvial deposits washed down from the Sierra. Long devoted to pears, cherries, watermelon, garlic, and olives, the ranch welcomed grapes in 2000. The McCormacks planted varieties suited to heat yet capable of retaining acidity—Grüner, Orange Muscat, Verdejo, Loureiro, Falanghina, Cortese, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Albariño. They agreed to farm our section organically. Bay breezes bring dramatic diurnal swings. Farming here demands balance: broad canopies and moderated yields to preserve freshness without dilution. It’s a wild place, unmistakably Californian.