“Few American Viticultural Areas (AVA) anywhere occupy a more distinctive—or removed—location than the Chalone AVA,” suggests enigmatic wine writer Matt Kramer in his book New California Wine. Visiting this parched territory tucked way up in the Gabilan Mountain Range —home to wild boars, coyotes, scorpions, and tarantulas-- one cannot help but wonder how grapes found a home in this improbable place.

The Chalone Appellation, perhaps one of California’s most intellectual wine growing regions, was recognized in the early 80’s, but its grape growing history stretches back to the turn of the century. Curtis Tamm, a Frenchman, has been credited with establishing the first vineyard on the Chalone bench. It is believed this eccentric emigrant was looking for just such a site—a high, hilly swath of rocky soil with a high concentration of limestone deposits.

The eastern skyline of the Michaud Vineyard is dominated by the intriguing and mysterious Pinnacles National Monument, remnants of an old volcano born 28 million years ago. Repeated volcanic eruption at the rift has sent what is today called the Pacific Plate to the east, grinding away at the massive continental plate. The resulting soil type is a decomposed granite and clay loam. The Pacific plate, submerged by the Pacific Ocean for most of its life, acquired numerous limestone deposits from the decay of marine organisms in this region. It is today one of the few places on earth where granite and limestone are co-located, providing a well drained and mineral rich soil well suited to viticulture.

The region is ecologically described as a Chaparral community, receiving a modest 12-15 inches average rainfall. Additional irrigation water is supplemented by a well. The Michaud Vineyard is situated at an altitude of 1500’ in the cooler northern end of the Chalone Appellation. Ample sun and extreme daily temperature fluctuations of 40 to 60° F create favorable growing conditions that yield a great depth of varietal flavor as well as a regionally defined complement of mineral and spice characters (terroir).