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. Because of the magnitude of cold-air settling across the Sierra Foothills, hillside and hilltop sites can remain up to 30°F warmer on cool autumn evenings. At Lava Cap, this pattern of air settling and drainage means 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.