Mount Oso Vineyards - Tracy Hills AVA

An Anomaly in Climate and Soil
We control everything from vine to bottle, creating a handcrafted product at an amazing price point. Mount Oso is the largest and the primary vineyard for our winery. The Tracy Hills AVA, encompassing 39,200 acres in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, was approved by the TTB in November 2006. The proposal was submitted by Tulip Hill Winery owner Budge Brown and his son Jeff Brown in 2003.

Our Mount Oso Vineyard in Tracy Hills is approximately 330 acres of six different varietals:
• 195 acres Cabernet Sauvignon
• 88 acres Syrah/Shiraz
• 10 acres Merlot
• 15 acres Zinfandel
• 10 acres Pinot Grigio
• 12 acres Chardonnay
The Mount Oso region ranges from 100 feet to 500 feet above sea level and receives between eight and nine inches of rainfall per year. The greatness of the mountain often tends to steer the storms around the vineyard, with a water table approximately 110 feet deep, allowing our vineyard manager, Jeff Brown, to control the amount of water on the vines, stressing them to create small tight berries with amazing flavor.

Mikael Gulyash, Our Winemaker's 411 on Mount Oso

Viola, some musings from the compound! Mount Oso vineyard intrigues me with one of the curiosities being the climate. It is supposed to be considered, for all practical purposes, central valley, but the vineyard enjoys a climate nowhere near central valley which is high temperatures both day and night. I've traveled several times over the Altamont in the early morning, mid afternoon, and middle night and the overriding feature is the wind. The temperature difference between the ocean and the interior is what drives the wind mills, and that also implies lots of cool ocean influence can also make it to Tracy. This would moderate daytime and nighttime temperatures…so no hot days nor cold nights. No extreme temperature swings and good atmospheric "mixing" would make this region cooler and more even than most places in Napa or Sonoma except for the coastal areas. Would this then put this region in a similar climate as Carneros or Petaluma Gap or Sonoma Coast?

The overall impression I have during one visit is the general soil characteristics are alluvial in nature. A bit of clay or clay loam here and there, but generally deep, well drained soils in most places which is always a desired trait for winegrape propagation. The well drained soils offer good root growth which will result in good vigor. Over all, the fruit is intense in each varietal. Some of the Italian varietals show lovely perfume and spice. The color intensity is moderate, the wines are full, lush and fruity.

Jeff Brown, Vineyard Manager
Following in his father's farming footsteps, Jeff the youngest of Budge's sons presides over the Mount Oso vineyard growing practices. Jeff is the one responsible for producing the finest fruit, which go into our Tulip Hill Tracy Hills varietals.

Jeff, nicknamed the Grape Whisperer, has often said that he can look at a vineyard and it will tell him what it needs. The deep, gravelly soil and nonexistent water table allow control over the berry size and crop load that will affect the quality of the juice. If the "berries" are allowed to have too much moisture they will become too large. Larger berries will produce a wine that become diluted or thin, lacking a deep rich color, depth of character, and fullness in the mouth...the difference of growing fruit for quality or tonnage.

Jeff and His Family - Jeff and his wife Jackie have two children, Jeffrey Jr. and Jessica. Their home is nestled in the Mount Oso vineyards. The family enjoys 4-wheeling and bicycling in the vineyards.