The Old Soldier Red Blend tells the remarkable story of an early 1900s army encampment in Lake County, where soldiers carved a road through our vineyards, connecting their base to another military camp near Mt. St. Helena. This historic military road, built by hand through the rugged terrain of Tephra Ridge, winds through the very vineyard blocks where we grow the Bordeaux varietals that comprise this distinctive blend.
More than a century later, that soldier-built road serves as both a physical and symbolic connection between the grape varieties that define our Old Soldier Red. Each varietal—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and their Bordeaux companions—grows along the path these dedicated servicemen forged through the volcanic soils of Howell Mountain. Our blend honors their legacy and the enduring connection between the land they traversed and the wines we craft today, creating a living tribute to the soldiers who first recognized the potential of this extraordinary terrain.
