Wines & Grapes

The Dorsas have planted five varietals of grapes at La Rusticana d’Orsa – Merlot, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, to blend for an exceptional red table wine. On the ranch, the changes of seasons are best expressed in the vineyards. In the spring twisting sculptural forms begin to show life as their winter gray turns to green. In summer green leaves nourished by the sun and the soil protect tiny green grapes in their shade. In fall leaves turn yellow and grapes show their distinctive colors. In winter after the grapes have been harvested and leaves have fallen, gray sculptural forms reappear, now large and more elaborate.

Frank enjoys working in the vineyards throughout the year. When it comes time to prune the vines, he sets aside an entire vineyard to prune by himself. This simple task, his favorite, bonds him with the earth. The care that Frank and his crew lavish on the grapes by using old fashioned methods has resulted in award winning wines year after year.