In this discussion filmed on January, 25, 2022, Whitney and Bob Hopkins of Hopkins River Ranch discuss family history and agriculture with Viticulturalist, April Nalle.
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Hopkins River Ranch has seen the transition from hops to prunes to grapes in the last 65 years and extends from near the banks of the Russian River to the eastern rolling hills above Star Road. Located in the heart of the Russian River AVA, soils here are well drained loam over a deep layer (20-30 feet) of Russian River gravel. Longtime family friend and winegrower, Bob Hopkins, planted the block we source our Pinot grapes from in 1989. An old friend who was working for Joe Swan at the time, persuaded Bob to graft four rows of the block using cuttings from the Swan vineyard. 29 years later Nalle receives those very same four rows of swan clone Pinot with a handshake and a smile. The swan clone tends to be a lighter more delicate iteration of the varietal and compliments the Nalle style. The Hopkins family strive to follow sustainable farming practices, and have incorporated many organic farming techniques in our vineyard.