Our Topography

The complex topography of Lava Cap distinguishes our location from other settings. As the sun sets, cool air from the Sierra Nevada settles in low lying pockets, creating areas of cold night-time air surrounded by relatively warmer hillside and hilltop sites. In contrast, hillsides and hilltops experience lower daytime temperatures and narrower diurnal variations. The result is a rich patchwork of microclimates across the vineyard that can support a tremendous diversity of grapes, all capable of premium expressions. The the magnitude to which air settling patterns can impact low temperatures in the region mean hillside and hilltop sites can remain up to 30 degrees warmer on cool autumn evenings across the Sierra Foothills.  At Lava Cap, our this pattern of air settling and drainage mean we experience a large diversity in total hours of cooling and heating in a small area, allowing us to plant a large diversity of grapes across our Estate vineyard.