Lester Family Vineyard is a classic cool-climate location with sandy, loamy soil which lends itself perfectly to the cultivation of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. The vineyard’s cool climate is due to heavy marine influence as it lies just below 600 ft elevation and only 3 miles from the Monterey Bay. Although the fog can bring challenges in colder years, the marine influence allows for the slow and even grape development with full phenolic ripeness in most vintages. The 14-acre vineyard is nearly dry farmed, being watered at most 2-3 times during the year and then only for 4-6 hours at a time. Sustainable agricultural practices include no herbicide use, VSP trellising, careful canopy management that allows for air movement and stippled lighting around the fruit, minimal season deficit irrigation, cover crops and no-till floor management.
Lester Estate Wines was established in 2013 with our first commercial release in 2016. We embrace a unique winery model in that we collaborate with multiple winemakers rather than employ a single winemaker. With the freedom to choose which vineyard rows and clones to use, each winemaker creates their own unique expression of Pinot Noir from this single vineyard. In addition to Pinot Noir, our primary winemaker, John Benedetti also makes Chardonnay, Syrah and Rosé of Syrah sourced from Lester Family Vineyard. Lester Estate Wines’ current releases showcase 5 different winemakers.
