Varietals We Cultivate

Ascona's Premium Varietals

Our carefully curated vineyard produces a selection of premium varietals, including rare and distinctive varietals, each a reflection of the land’s unique character.

Aligoté

Rare and distinctive in California, our Aligoté benefits from the vineyard’s elevation and coastal influence, resulting in a crisp, focused wine. Expect notes of green apple, lemon pith, and flint, with a clean, mineral-driven finish that speaks to its mountain origins.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Our Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in the vineyard’s elevated terrain and coastal air, producing fruit with bold structure, deep color, and refined tannins. The combination of rocky mountain soils and cool maritime influence yields a wine that is both powerful and poised, with notes of blackcurrant, graphite, and mountain herbs.

Our Cabernet Franc benefits from the vineyard’s high elevation and coastal breezes, developing vibrant aromatics and finely textured tannins. The well-drained mountain soils and long, cool growing season produce a wine with elegant structure and layered notes of red cherry, violet, and subtle earth.

Cabernet Franc

Chardonnay

Our Chardonnay reflects the purity of our mountain terroir, offering bright acidity, stony minerality, and a graceful tension. The coastal fog and elevation preserve freshness, resulting in a wine with citrus blossom, green apple, and a touch of salinity.

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc flourishes in our well-drained soils and fog-kissed slopes, yielding a wine that’s both textural and electric. Lively acidity and a core of minerality support layered flavors of quince, citrus peel, and wildflower honey.

Gamay

Our Gamay thrives in the vineyard’s rocky soils and cool mountain climate, producing a vibrant, aromatic wine with bright acidity and silky texture. Notes of red currant, crushed rose petal, and subtle spice reflect both the freshness of the air and the depth of the land.

Merlot

Our Merlot develops beautifully in the warm, exposed blocks of the vineyard, while cool nights preserve its balance and structure. The result is a plush yet restrained wine, with flavors of dark cherry, cocoa, and soft herbs, supported by fine tannins and fresh acidity.

Negroamaro

Rarely found in the region, our Negroamaro thrives in the vineyard’s sun-drenched slopes and lean, rocky soils. The result is a bold, earthy wine with dark plum, spice, and a savory edge—tempered by cool evening air that maintains lift and freshness.

Pinot Noir

Our Pinot Noir is shaped by the vineyard’s elevation, diurnal shifts, and marine influence, yielding a wine of nuance and precision. Expect layers of wild strawberry, forest floor, and bright acidity, with fine tannins and a long, graceful finish.

Sangiovese

Our Sangiovese captures the tension between mountain sunlight and coastal cooling, resulting in a wine that is bright, structured, and unmistakably expressive. Grown in well-drained soils at elevation, it shows vivid notes of red cherry, dried herbs, and subtle spice, with firm acidity and a refined, savory finish.

Sauvignon Blanc

The Sauvignon Blanc at Ascona expresses high-altitude vibrancy and coastal clarity, resulting in a wine that’s crisp, aromatic, and mineral-driven. Notes of lime zest, green pear, and wet stone reflect the purity of our soils and cooling ocean air.

Syrah

Our Syrah flourishes in the rocky, sun-exposed blocks of the vineyard, developing deep color, rich concentration, and wild aromatics. The mountain climate lends balance and structure, producing a wine with blackberry, black pepper, and hints of smoked herbs.

Rootstock

Our vines are grafted onto carefully selected rootstocks that match the site's unique soils, elevation, and water profile. These rootstocks promote vine health, manage vigor, and enhance the expression of each varietal, ensuring optimal balance and longevity in the vineyard.

Award-Winning Wineries

Ascona's fruit is sought after by some of California’s most respected winemakers. We are proud to supply Madson Wines, Leo Steen, Big Basin Vineyards, Thomas Fogarty and other top-tier producers, ensuring our grapes are crafted into wines of distinction.