ROAR Vineyards

Rosella’s Vineyard is the first property we planted to vine, and is the northernmost of our vineyards. Planted in 1996, it wraps around the family home and is named for Rosella, Gary’s wife. Its rows of vines ascend from River Road up the hillside toward the mountain ridge, often laced with fog. Plush lemon trees flank its western edge. The sandy loam soil allows good drainage, encouraging deep vine roots that add complexity in the wines. Here we grow Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Our wines from Rosella’s Vineyard are known for their expressive aromatics and smooth suppleness on the palate.

“Rosella's is amongst a handful of California's greatest Pinot Noir vineyards, providing grapes of great complexity and wines with a unique combination of power and grace. Any winemaker would be ecstatic of working with fruit from this remarkable site.” – Adam Lee | Winemaker

Established on a handshake between two lifelong friends, Garys’ Vineyard was planted in 1997 and quickly rose to fame as a desirable source for quality Pinot Noir. This vineyard exemplifies the enduring friendship and farming partnership between Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni, now carried on by their four sons. Standing a the foot of the vineyard, the fifty acres of rows progress in a “V” shape over the rocky alluvial soil, up toward the Highlands’ summit. Planted completely to Pinot Noir, Garys’ Vineyard is known for bold, spicy aromatics and rich berry flavors that only improve over time. 

“Comparatively modest in size against other heavy-weight vineyards at only 50 acres, this Soledad-based vineyard packs a punch so hard that it's named after not one, but two people named Gary. ” – Jonathan Cristaldi | Food & Wine

Just south of Garys’ Vineyard, where windswept oak trees dot a rolling slope, lies Soberanes Vineyard. The vineyard is named after a local land grant that occurred the late 18th century, where nearly 9,000 acres were acquired for just 100 head of livestock. Another partnership between Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni, it was planted in 2008 with row orientation set to true north, compared to 10 degrees west of north in Garys’ Vineyard. In the mornings you’ll see a blanket of fog here, and in the afternoon the steady winds from the bay continue to keep vines cool when the sun is shining.

“In the center of the appellation is Soberanes, a vineyard managed by the Pisoni and Franscioni families, multigenerational farmers who have defined the fine wines that the region is capable of.” – MaryAnn Worobiec | Wine Spectator

Sierra Mar is the southernmost site that our family owns and manages. It is our highest in elevation at up to 1,100 feet above sea level. In 2007, Gary Franscioni painstakingly planted it, and drilled a well which pumps water three miles up the hillsides to make irrigation possible. The heavily sloped terrain and thin soils encourage deep root systems and drainage. Its elevation often places Sierra Mar around the fogline, adding to its diversity and mystique. This slightly warmer site also experiences heavy winds in the afternoon along with cooler nights help retain natural acidity.

“A dramatic hillside vineyard with multiple exposures and one isolated, striking plot that looks like a setting for an opening scene in a James Bond movie.” – Robert Parker | Wine Advocate

We source Pinot Noir from this mountain site through our longtime partnership with the Pisoni family. Tucked into the southern mountains of the Santa Lucia Highlands, the Pisoni family has meticulously farmed this high-elevation site since Gary Pisoni first planted vines in 1982. He was one of the very first to pioneer Pinot Noir in our appellation, believing it had great potential for quality. Here the rugged terrain has thin soils of granite and gravelly loam, with bits of schist and quartz. All this, to produce low yields and tiny clusters that translate into depth and intensity in the wines.

“Grapes from the Pisoni Vineyard are among some of the most highly sought in California.” – Antonio Galloni | Vinous