Fox Hill Vineyard
Fox Hill is one of the most unique vineyards in California today. What makes the 60-acre vineyard so special is the 25 Italian grape varieties and several Spanish varieites that call it home. Fox Hill is a CCOF certified organic vineyard owned and farmed by us at Broc Cellars. The vineyard came under our ownership in 2023 after a long partnership sourcing Italian varieties from Fox Hill for nearly a decade. It is very rare to find such a wide variety in one place anywhere in Northern California and we are so excited by all the possibilities Fox Hill has to offer!
Our first harvest at Fox Hill was in 2013 of the Nero d’Avola for our Badger wine. It was our first time working with Italian grape varieties and we immediately fell in love with the results. A decade later, we continue to expand the number of delicious, everyday wines we make from Fox Hill to include the Amore Rosso, Amore Blendo, Amore Bianco. More to come! Fox Hill is the Italian oasis it is today because of long-time owner Lowell Stone. In the 1980s, Lowell ripped up Chardonnay and Riesling vines to plant suitcase vine cuttings brought back from Italy. His vision defied conventions of the time to plant varieties he passionately loved – and loved to drink. We are forever grateful to him.
Chris Brockway has helped manage farming operations for Fox Hill since 2021, continuing the early work of Sam Bilbro, joined by Evan Lewandowski, to help Lowell farm for more than a decade. The vineyard became officially CCOF certified organic in 2024, after many years of transitioning to organic farming practices such as the use of cover crop as an important tool. Cover crop helps us farm in many ways from enriching soil health with necessary nutrients, boosting water retention, weed control, and support overall vine growth. In Spring, sheep graze among the vines, managing the crop cover and fertilizing the soil. The soil is predominantly mineral-driven redvine, river rock, and pebbly sandstone, with large quartz pieces that are easy to trip over when weaving between the vines. Fox Hill is nestled on the Talmage Bench, an uplifted former riverbed from the Russian River. Bunches of pennyroyal are found scattered among the 20+ year-old vines.
AVA: Mendocino County
Farming Practices: Organically Farmed
Varietals We Work With: Tocai Friulano, Trebbiano, Dolcetto, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Barbera, Primitivo, Nero d'Avola
Website: foxhillvineyards.com
