French Camp Vineyards

French Camp Vineyards is a vineyard in Paso Robles California, U.S.A. which is in the Paso Robles AVA.

French Camp Vineyards
LocationPaso Robles AVA, USA
Coordinates35.493363°N 120.240538°W / 35.493363; -120.240538
AppellationPaso Robles
Founded1973
First vintage1976
Key peopleHank Ashby(Manager), James Ontiveros(Sales), Steve Miller (Owner), Nicholas Miller (Owner)
Known forAnglim, Edna Valley, Fess Parker, Fetzer, Kendell Jackson, Mosby, Tobin James, Mid Life Crisis
VarietalsZinfandel, Syrah, Chardonnay, Merlot, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Lagrein, Cabernet Sauvignon
Websitehttp://www.frenchcampvineyards.com

History

Originally, the French Camp land was part of the San Juan Ranch. Over time, The San Juan Ranch was split into a number of parcels including the French Camp area, which became a part of the Camatta Ranch. The Miller family purchased The Camatta Ranch property in 1968, believing that it could be developed to various crops including wine grapes. They leased parts of it out for a few years while they gathered information as to climate, soils, and water for irrigation. Initially, 200 acres (0.8 km2) were planted to wine grapes in 1973. [1]

The French Camp operation is a team effort among the people who have grown the grapes, those that have managed its business affairs, those that have sold the production (whether it was grapes or cuttings), and those that have done strategic planning for future growth. These team members include Hank Ashby, Vineyard Manager, Debbie Strange, the Office Manager, James Ontiveros, grape salesman, members of the Miller family, who own French Camp Vineyards, and Chon.

Working together, this group has grown French Camp to over 1,700 acres (7 km2).[1]

Vineyard mechanization

In cooperation with the University of Arkansas, Dr. Justin Morris (Director of Food Science & Engineering at U of A), and OXBO International, Hank Ashby, Vineyard Manager for French Camp Vineyards has adopted a new method for producing a better balanced and consistent crop.

The Morris-Oldridge canopy management system achieves yields within 10% of the yield goal. By using mechanization for pruning, shoot thinning, and fruit thinning, crop levels can be adjusted several times during the growing season. This practice would be cost prohibitive if not for mechanization.

In the average vineyard, annual yield can very as much as 50% year to year, making it very difficult to predict budgetary and wine productions numbers.

Moreover, in conjunction with Paso Robles Wine Services, French Camp has conducted trials demonstrating better quality fruit production as a result of the balanced cropping technique when compared against hand farmed fruit in many cases.

References
  1. "History". French Camp Vineyards official web site. French Camp Vineyards. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
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