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This month we will be taking over the beautiful Heringer Vineyard in Clarksburg with views along Elk Slough and all the natural wonders the Delta has to offer.
The Clarksburg wine appellation is surrounded by the cooling waterways of the Sacramento River Delta. The Delta Breeze carries cooler, more humid, air from off of the Pacific Ocean. This helps regulate higher temperatures and allows the grapes to ripen slower and more consistently, helping to develop the chemistry within the grape. Some of the most popular varieties they grow are Tempranillo, Teroldego, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, Malbec, Tannat, and the legendary Chenin Blanc.
Clarksburg has been the Heringer family home since 1868 when John Heringa immigrated from Holland to California. John came to the Delta with his family to farm and build his legacy. Through seven generations the family has farmed various row crops, such as alfalfa, corn, sugar beets, and tomatoes. Through research the family found that the Clarksburg silty loamy soil and climate were ideal for growing wine grapes and planted their first vineyard in the 1970s. That first planting of wine grapes was the beginning of a changing agriculture market in California and the start of the Clarksburg Wine Country that we love today.
“Papa” Heringer, as he is affectionately known, has made a conscious effort to preserve the history of the region. The Purple Thread storefront was a historic building originally used as a saddle room. In the 1960s, it was relocated to downtown Clarksburg and repurposed as a second-hand shop. For almost 45 years, locals donated goods and sales were used to fund the local library. When the Purple Thread closed its doors in 2004, the Heringer family was granted permission to move the storefront to their estate.
The Purple Thread isn’t the only example of preservation and sustainable building practices. The historic barn on site was rolled in on logs over 130 years ago. They considered using it as a museum for their collection of farm tools and equipment before turning it into the tasting room you see today.
Don’t miss our hosts on Thursday morning for a Winery Talk and Tour at 9am.
See you on the farm!
Jenna Harris
Artist Engagement Director
YoloArts
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