Off-roading
The Terraces At Quarry Vineyards

TRAVEL - June 3, 2009

"Get the mule; meet me at the winery site." Over a century ago those commands might have echoed through the woodlands that today surround The Terraces At Quarry Vineyards.

Our Kawasaki "Mule" had four wheels not four hooves. Nate Page, assistant winemaker, skillfully traversed terraced hillsides on dirt trails revealing eclectic statuary, vineyards clinging to rocky volcanic soil and commanding views of Rutherford. Along the way we stopped at a roofless "ghost winery," built in the 1880's from tufa stone quarried on the property.

Owners, Timm and Sharon Crull represent a breed dedicated to shepherding the land and respecting old world traditions, as we discovered at the Acetaia. There, cradled in casks of Chestnut, Cherry, Ash, Oak, Acacia and Mulberry, lay a slowly evaporating, hidden treasure - aceto balsamico. This thick, traditional, Italian balsamic vinegar will be transferred from large casks to sequentially smaller ones over a quarter century.

Since 1999, the Crull family has been coaxing excellent Cabernets and Zinfandels from their terraces. At the behest of savvy Napa veterans, we sampled their limited production wines and enjoyed a personal, diverse tour of the land and its history.

The Terraces at Quarry Vineyards
1450 Silverado Trail
St. Helena, CA 94574
Phone: 707 963-1707 (Tours by appointment only)
www.TerracesWine.com

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