Ravenswood Historic Site Vineyards

Ravenswood Historic Site Vineyards. . 1890 , Buckley's Vineyard , Christopher Augustine Buckley's Winery was built in 1890 and a brandy distillery was added in 1897. The original 100 acre site was one of the larger early vineyards in the Livermore Valley. After its expansion in 1897, the winery produced 150,000 gallons per year. When Mr. Buckley became a winemaker, he researched grape varieties that were resistant to phylloxera, the root mite which, combined with Prohibition, almost wiped out the early wine industry both here and in the Napa Valley. In 1891, he was growing twelve grape varieties (including Zinfandel, Folle Blanche, and Muscat de Bordelais) all sold and shipped in bulk. Buckley was one of the founding members of the original Livermore Valley Winemakers and Grapegrowers Association., 2006 , Ravenswood Historic Site Vineyards , This 12-acre vineyard was planted in 2006 and is divided into two distinct areas representing historic and modern planting styles. The northern vineyard area contains Zinfandel, Grenache and Mourvedre varieties, planted in the historic style. This method of planting is comprised of individual plants head-pruned on individua stakes. The southern vineyard contains Zinfandel Petite Sirah, Petite Verdot, Malbec and Caberne Franc varieties, planted in the modern style. This style of planting started in the 1950s with multiple plants on a 'V' trellis system. The grapes are also planted at an angle, running from SW to NE to reduce direct sun exposure. The vineyard yielded its first harvest in 2009. The wine from this vineyard is sold under various labels including Corvino Bosco which translates to "raven's woods" in Italian., Thank You Friends of the Vineyards , The restoration of the Ravenswood Historic Site Vineyards was made possible by a generous donation from 'Friends of the Vineyards, a local non-profit founded in 1981, in an effort to stop development from pushing out local vineyards and wineries. In July 2003, 'Friends of the Vineyards' donated $83,939 towards the reconstruction of vineyards at Ravenswood Historic Site, which allowed for the…