Discover Gloeckner Turner Vineyards
The Vineyard Locations
The Vineyard Locations
The Vineyard Locations
Our vineyards sit on top of the Rockpile Ridge Range with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Sonoma. While farming wine grapes in Rockpile is challenging, the rewards can result in world-class wines. Over the years, the Mauritson Family has taken great care of our vineyards. Everything we do in the vineyard is with
Our vineyards sit on top of the Rockpile Ridge Range with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Sonoma. While farming wine grapes in Rockpile is challenging, the rewards can result in world-class wines. Over the years, the Mauritson Family has taken great care of our vineyards. Everything we do in the vineyard is with an effort to produce quality fruit. That tradition continues today.
Most of the Rockpile AVA is on Rockpile Ridge and provides great southwest sun exposure. The slopes have limited, often rocky soils, composed of loam and clay-loam with occasional protrusions of solid rock that provides for good drainage. Temperatures are usually four to eight degrees cooler during the day and warmer at night than nearby valleys such as Dry Creek Valley. Another climatic advantage of Rockpile is the AVA is sited above the fog line, which means drier, warmer, more sunny mornings during the autumn ripening season. Less fog, together with the usual evening breezes, mean better airflow and less opportunity for the development of cluster rot, which for the most part is rare in Rockpile. The usual evening breezes, while cool, are not as cold as the valleys.
Our Farming
The Vineyard Locations
The Vineyard Locations
The AVA is considered a scarce water area, but we are fortunate to have sufficient water from our four wells and irrigate sustainably using drip irrigation.
Most of our vineyard sites are on benchland with excellent drainage and all are Sonoma County Certified Sustainable. All pesticides and fungicides and sprays are limited to only th
The AVA is considered a scarce water area, but we are fortunate to have sufficient water from our four wells and irrigate sustainably using drip irrigation.
Most of our vineyard sites are on benchland with excellent drainage and all are Sonoma County Certified Sustainable. All pesticides and fungicides and sprays are limited to only those absolutely necessary to produce a healthy vintage.
Canopy management is extensive, thinning laterals, shoot positioning with later thinning of the fruit by dropping stacked clusters, wings and small slow ripening clusters. Harvest decisions are coordinated with the winemakers to achieve the optimal Brix considering all variables.
Overall, the fruit we produce have intense flavors with soft tannins and great color. Our Zinfandel has been referred to as “Zin with the heart of Cabernet.”
Family Ranch History
The Vineyard Locations
Family Ranch History
Founded in 1978 when Charles and Agnes Gloeckner acquired the ranch, which at that time was an active sheep ranch managed by their son Bob Gloeckner. About 1985, the sheep business became unprofitable and the family turned to cattle ranching. With the passing of Charles and Agnes, the children, Bob and Jean, at the advice of their long-
Founded in 1978 when Charles and Agnes Gloeckner acquired the ranch, which at that time was an active sheep ranch managed by their son Bob Gloeckner. About 1985, the sheep business became unprofitable and the family turned to cattle ranching. With the passing of Charles and Agnes, the children, Bob and Jean, at the advice of their long-time friend and vineyard farmer, Thom Mauritson, planted Zinfandel, the first of three grape varietals that followed later. Eventually, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and another but separate block of Zinfandel was planted. From inception through the harvest of 2023, the vineyards have been continuously farmed by the Mauritson family using their expertise and dedication to grow excellent fruit. Under his supervision, Bob Gloeckner manages the ranch and North Coast Vineyard Management farms the vineyards as of 2024. In 2020, the family sold a conservation easement to the Sonoma County Ag and Open Space District to sustainably keep the ranch in open space forever and pass the ranch to future generations.
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