The Bench

Clements Hills

Part of the larger Lodi AVA, Clements Hill sits between the Sierra Foothills and the California Delta, benefiting from the influence of both. Its Mediterranean-like climate and crumbly soils make Clements Hill well suited to growing Spanish grape varieties. Tempranillo, Garnacha (Grenache) and Albariño grow well in the dry heat of the region, as do Zinfandel, Syrah and Viognier. To survive, the vines have to force their roots deep into the loamy-granite earth to find water, which naturally restricts yields and grape size. All of this helps give Clements Hill wines their structure and concentration.