The vines that contour the gentle slope of Garys’ Vineyard hold fast in this land’s alluvial soils. In summer they withstand the bracing wind as they drink in the moisture of the cold fog. Planted in 1997, these Pinot Noir vines are in the prime of life. Jeff Pisoni, the family’s vintner, notes that his father Gary likes to compare people and vines. Young vines are like teenagers, big, strong and vigorous; as they get older, though, the vines settle down and come into their own with roots anchored deep into the earth. Just short of thirty years old, the older vines on this modest but mighty 51-acre parcel produce much lower yields than earlier in their youth with fruit of great concentration and complexity.

“Mighty”, we might say, because Garys’ Vineyard has long been recognized, as Lettie Teague writes for the Wall Street Journal, as “one of the most famous vineyards in California.” No surprise, then, that it continues to earn the Pisoni family accolades. Wine Enthusiast named the 2022 vintage of Lucia Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir to the #7 place in their list of the world’s top wines for 2024, calling attention to the “rich spice and dark fruit on the alluring and awesome nose of this bottling.” In recognizing this vintage, Wine Enthusiast also honored Garys’ Vineyard as “arguably the appellation’s most iconic vineyard.”

The 2023 vintage is particularly special for the Pisoni family. A moderate, cool summer resulted in a significantly late harvest, not beginning until the first week of October and spanning through the first week of November.   This vintage was the latest since 1999– the first year fruit was harvested from Garys’ Vineyard. 2023, like 1999, was a vintage of patience and the long, slow wait for harvest led to wines characterized by great acidity, remarkable richness and elegance.

What is it like to coax grapes into ripeness and craft wine from such an eminent vineyard? “It is a tremendous honor and responsibility” comments Mark, the farmer of the family. Both Jeff and Mark wear their expertise lightly, though. Like the down-to-earth name of this vineyard, which gestures toward the spirit of cooperation by being named for the long time partnership between childhood friends Gary Pisoni and Gary Franscioni, the Pisoni brothers too model teamwork. They approach the land with deep affection and humility, honoring “their family heritage while pushing the boundaries of what is possible in this renowned appellation,” as the Chicago Wine Press notes. And after all, why sit back on your laurels when you can continue to devote each day and season and vintage to crafting the best wine possible?