Region of production: Sonoma Coast
Winery Location: St. Helena
Year Established: 1998

Vineyard Holdings

  • Estate Property (Sonoma Coast AVA)36.5 ha (5.5 ha planted)
  • Olivet Lane Vineyard (Russian River Valley AVA): 5.5 ha
  • Silverado Trail Zinfandel Vineyard: 1 ha

Sourced vineyards

  • Hudson Vineyards (Carneros AVA)
  • Haynes (Coombsville AVA)
  • Chuy (Sonoma Valley AVA)
  • Keefer Ranch (Russian River Valley AVA)
  • Savoy Vineyard (Anderson Valley AVA)
  • Alban Vineyard (Edna Valley AVA)
  • Hirsch Vineyard (Fort Ross-Seaview AVA)
  • Occidental Ridge (Sonoma Coast AVA)
  • Peay Vineyard (Sonoma Coast AVA)
  • Pearlessence Vineyard (Sonoma Coast AVA)
  • Whistler Vineyard (Sonoma Coast AVA)

Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages

  • Sonoma Coast: Inaugural vintage 2010.
  • Estate: Inaugural vintage 2002.
  • Hudson Vineyard: Inaugural vintage 2010.
  • Haynes Vineyard: Inaugural vintage 2011.
  • Chuy Vineyard: Inaugural vintage 2011.
  • Keefer Ranch: Inaugural vintage 1999.

Average Total Production

  • 180,00 bottles (60,000 bottles Chardonnay)

Summary

Failla Wines is a boutique, family-operated winery in St. Helena specializing in cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. The winery is owned and operated by Ehren Jordan. Ehren began his career in Napa Valley at Joseph Phelps where he was originally offered a part- time tour guide position and later “talked” his way into the cellar. Ehren’s resume extended to include a two-year apprenticeship with Jean-Luc Colombo in the Northern Rhône, a farming position with Helen Turley (under the Marcassin label), a partnership with Neyers Vineyards, a translating stint for Kermit Lynch, and finally the position of head winemaker and General Manager of Turley Wine Cellars. Ehren and his wife Anne-Marie Failla released their first wines in 1998 under the Failla-Jordan label.

Style & Vinification Techniques

Estate vineyards are dry farmed and sourced vineyards are controlled through long-term contracts. Grapes are harvested early to capitalize on acid profiles before whole cluster pressing into a settling tank with no added sulfur. Minimal intervention takes place in the cellar: no additions, racking, stirring, fining or filtering. Élevage takes place in a combination of concrete egg, stainless steel, and French oak (ranging 5-30% new). Wines rest sur lie 9-11 months before bottling. 

Producer Website: Failla