Alban Vineyards
Summary
Alban Vineyards, America's first exclusively Rhône-focused winery, produces approximately 6,000 cases annually from 66 acres of hillside and sloping vineyards in California's Edna Valley, where clay loam, limestone, and sandstone soils support primarily Syrah along with other Rhône varieties. John Alban personally oversees all aspects of production, employing aggressive crop thinning, indigenous yeasts when possible, extended maceration periods, and extended French oak aging to create vineyard-designated wines that express their unique sites.
Heritage & Leadership
Alban Vineyards was established in 1989 by John Alban in the Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo County, California. As the first American winery dedicated exclusively to Rhône varieties, Alban Vineyards marked a significant turning point in California viticulture. John Alban, who holds a degree in enology from California State University Fresno, worked at several wineries before purchasing his own property to pursue his passion for Rhône varieties, particularly Syrah.
In 1987, prior to founding his eponymous winery, Alban planted his first Syrah vines on the property. The official establishment of Alban Vineyards followed two years later with the release of the first commercial vintage. John Alban remains the proprietor and winemaker, maintaining direct oversight of all vineyard and winery operations. His pioneering work with Rhône varieties earned him recognition as a founding member of the Rhône Rangers, an organization dedicated to promoting American Rhône varietal wines.
The winery has maintained its focus on limited production, estate-grown wines throughout its history, with no significant changes in ownership or leadership structure since its founding.
Vineyards & Wines
Alban Vineyards encompasses 66 acres of planted vineyards within the Edna Valley AVA, approximately 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The estate vineyards are divided into distinct parcels, each with specific soil compositions suited to different Rhône varieties. The primary vineyard areas include Reva, Lorraine, Seymour's, and Pandora, named for family members and planted predominantly to Syrah.
The vineyards sit at elevations ranging from 280 to 580 feet above sea level, featuring a mix of hillside and gently sloping terrain. The soil composition varies across the property but predominantly consists of clay loam, limestone, and decomposed sandstone. This diversity allows for site-specific plantings that match varieties to their ideal growing conditions.
The vineyard is planted primarily to Syrah (approximately 60% of plantings), with additional acreage dedicated to Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Roussanne, and small experimental blocks of other Rhône varieties. Vine density averages 1,210 vines per acre, with the oldest Syrah blocks dating back to the initial 1987 plantings.
The winery produces several vineyard-designated Syrahs, including Reva, Seymour's, and Lorraine, each expressing the distinct characteristics of their source blocks. Additional bottlings include Grenache, Viognier, and a proprietary red blend called "Pandora." Annual production remains deliberately limited at approximately 6,000 cases.
Philosophy & Practice
Alban's winemaking philosophy centers on expressing site-specific characteristics through minimal intervention. In the vineyard, practices include aggressive crop thinning to concentrate flavors, with yields typically maintained below three tons per acre. Harvest decisions are based on physiological ripeness rather than numerical measurements, often resulting in later picking dates than neighboring vineyards.
The winemaking process begins with hand harvesting and sorting, followed by varying fermentation approaches depending on the variety. For Syrah, Alban employs both whole-cluster and destemmed fermentations in open-top fermenters, with manual punch-downs during maceration periods that can extend up to four weeks. Indigenous yeasts are preferred for fermentation when conditions allow.
Aging protocols vary by wine but typically involve 18-32 months in French oak barrels, with new oak percentages ranging from 30% for Grenache to up to 100% for certain Syrah bottlings. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve complexity and aging potential.
Alban implements sustainable farming practices throughout the vineyard, including cover cropping, compost application, and integrated pest management. Irrigation is applied minimally and strategically, primarily during the establishment phase of young vines, with mature blocks dry-farmed when conditions permit.
The winery maintains a deliberate production scale to ensure hands-on attention to every aspect of viticulture and winemaking, reflecting John Alban's commitment to quality over quantity.