History of Calera Wines Estate
The story of Calera Wines begins in 1975, when Josh Jensen, inspired by his experience at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy, set out to replicate the unique terroir he had encountered in France. After studying at Yale and Oxford, Jensen worked at renowned Burgundy estates, where he developed a passion for Pinot Noir and the limestone soils essential to producing great wines. Determined to find a similar environment in California, Jensen spent two years searching for the ideal site and finally discovered it on Mt. Harlan, in the Gavilan Mountains.
In 1975, Jensen purchased a remote, limestone-rich parcel of land and planted his first three estate vineyards: Jensen, Reed, and Selleck. These vineyards, located at an elevation of over 670 meters (2,200 feet), are some of the highest and coolest vineyard sites in California, ideal for producing elegant and age-worthy wines. The winery was named "Calera," the Spanish word for limekiln, in reference to the limestone kiln still standing on the property, a nod to the terroir’s rich calcareous soils.
Over the years, Calera has gained a reputation as one of California’s finest producers of Pinot Noir, and Jensen worked tirelessly to establish the Mt. Harlan American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1990. Today, Calera is revered for its terroir-driven wines, including single-vineyard Pinot Noirs that express the unique character of the Mt. Harlan vineyards.
Region and Vineyards
The Mt. Harlan AVA, where Calera is located, is known for its extreme climate and elevation. Situated in the Gavilan Mountains, about 40 kilometers east of Monterey Bay, the vineyards benefit from the cooling marine air that sweeps over the site, maintaining lower temperatures compared to other wine regions in California. This allows for a long growing season, which preserves the natural acidity of the grapes while encouraging slow, even ripening.
The vineyards of Mt. Harlan are planted in limestone-rich soils, which contribute to the wines' signature minerality and structure. The estate’s vineyards are some of the highest in California, with elevations reaching up to 760 meters (2,500 feet). The winery owns six vineyard parcels, including Jensen, Reed, Selleck, Mills, de Villiers, and Ryan, all known for producing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Wine Range
Calera produces a range of wines that highlight the unique terroir of Mt. Harlan and the Central Coast. Their portfolio includes:
- Single-Vineyard Pinot Noirs: From the Jensen, Selleck, Reed, Ryan, Mills, and de Villiers vineyards, these wines are the flagship of Calera’s production, each expressing the individual characteristics of its site.
- Chardonnay: The Mt. Harlan Chardonnay is known for its rich texture and minerality, reflecting the limestone soils.
- Viognier and Aligoté: Produced in small quantities, these varietals showcase the winery’s dedication to crafting wines with finesse.
- Central Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay: These wines, sourced from premier vineyards across the Central Coast, offer excellent value and are crafted with the same attention to detail as the estate wines.
Did you know?
Josh Jensen was one of the earliest pioneers to recognize the potential of California Pinot Noir. His decision to plant vineyards on Mt. Harlan was considered audacious at the time due to its remote location and challenging growing conditions. Despite these obstacles, Calera is now regarded as one of the only wineries in the world with its own AVA, and Robert Parker once referred to it as “California’s Romanée-Conti”.
