Calera’s vineyards are planted on limestone, a rarity in California. As Josh says, “When you find limestone, it always seems to be at the bottom of a canyon, or in a cliff face on which you couldn’t possibly plant vines.” Josh found his on Mt. Harlan, near Hollister, CA, some 140 miles south of Napa and Sonoma.

These vineyards, at an average of 2,200 feet above sea level are among the highest, and coolest in California. The chill comes from cold marine air carried eastward by prevailing westerlies from the Pacific Ocean and the great eastward indentation in the coastline of Monterey Bay in an unobstructed, high-altitude flight path that reaches the upper elevations of the Gavilan Mountains and Mt. Harlan. Temperature is further influenced by the height of the vineyards themselves. On average, the temperature drops about 3 degrees for every 1,000 foot rise in elevation.

Because of this Region I-like microclimate, vineyards on Mt. Harlan have a very long growing season. Harvest normally occurs in the third or fourth week of October, late by any measure.

The area is relatively dry with an average rainfall of between 12 and 15 inches per year, falling mostly in November through March.Yields in these arid, steeply sloped mountain vineyards are consistently low, rarely exceeding 2 tons/acre.

For the story of how Josh selected the location for his vineyards and planted them, please see [History].