Vine types perform at their best when they are put to work in the type of soil and climate from which they were born. The clay soil and temperate Mediterranean climate of our Clay Station Vineyard on a breezy knoll in Lodi make this a perfect California home for the vaunted Merlot 181 vine stock from Pomerol, France. 181 Merlot vine stock is used to thick, silty soils that hold their moisture from winter rains into the growing season. Like Bordeaux, Lodi offers stone “cobbles” over a layer of clay red soil. These soils allow for deep root penetration and a stable vine during times of low moisture and heat. This allows the roots to “reach out” and establish a balanced vine.