Growers

Athan Poulos

Family Roots Run Deep | Redwood Valley

Athan’s wife, Denise grew up on the storied Lolonis ranch. She spent her summers swimming in the reservoir and her winters in front of the family hearth. So when the property came up for sale last year, she and Athan seized the opportunity. The two have been vigilantly restoring this pre-Prohibition property to its former glory. There are plantings of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Carignan, and Valdiguie that date back to 1945, putting some of these vines into the category of “oldest in California.”

Appellation: Redwood Valley
Vineyard designate: Lolonis
Soil type: Clay + fractured rock
Elevation: 400 feet
Clone: Sauvignon Blanc (cuttings from Chateau d’ Yquem) + Mother clone Semillon + Old Wente Chardonnay + Mother clone Valdiguie
Average age of vines: 70+ years
Farming: Certified Organic (and farmed organically since the 1940s)
Unique aspect: Very old vines, dry farming, historical ranch, rare Valdiguie vines
Sourced for: Sauvignon Blanc, Old Vine White, Indica, Valdiguie
What to expect from the wines: Super mineral, old vine density whites + wholly unique briny, blue fruited, light-bodied reds.