In 1990 Bernie Orsi purchased a cattle ranch in the Dry Creek Appellation on Mill Creek
Road just west of Healdsburg. A farmhouse and outbuildings stood on a knoll surrounded by rolling hills studded with oak and madrone. What the Orsi family originally envisioned as a few vines for landscaping ended up as 50 acres of cabernet and chardonnay.

In 1996 Bernie purchased another tract of land in the Russian River Appellation on Mark West Station Road. Vineyards followed on Eastside Road along the Russian River and in the northern part of Dry Creek on the valley floor. Bernie and Lawrence also farm a Merlot vineyard in Napa County which provides wine for their blend, La Mescalanza.

The Orsi vineyards are in good company: The Mark West Station Road pinot noir vineyard is adjacent to Sapphire Hill and the Eastside Road vineyard is directly across the Russian River from Rochioli, two of the most well-respected Pinot Noir producers in Sonoma County. The cabernet vineyards are planted on the hillside at Mill Creek overlooking the valley and on well-drained soils on the Dry Creek Valley floor.

Only a very small percentage of the cabernet and pinot noir grapes grown in the Orsi vineyards makes its way into Orsi Papale wines. Each year, the partners have the luxury of selecting their 4 to 5 tons of cabernet and pinot noir from various locations within each designated appellation before the remainder of the crop goes to other wineries. This selection process is the basis of Bernie and Lawrence’s winemaking philosophy.

La poesia del vino é scritta nella vigna.
The poetry of the wine is written in the vineyard.

Mark West Station – Russian River Valley Appellation, Sonoma County
Pinot Noir – Clones 113, 114, 115 and Pommard

Eastside Road – Russian River Valley Appellation, Sonoma County
Pinot Noir – Clones 114, 115 and 777

Mill Creek Vineyard – Dry Creek Appellation, Sonoma County
Cabernet Sauvignon – Clones 7 and 337

Dry Creek Road Vineyard – Dry Creek Appellation, Sonoma County
Cabernet Sauvignon– Clone 7