Rosenthal - The Malibu Estate Vineyard History

The Malibu Hills Vineyards are situated at elevations between 1,450 to 1,510 feet. To the west of the vineyards is a 1,630-foot ridge that creates a unique microclimate in the hills above Malibu, California. The ridge holds back the cooling marine layer ocean breezes in June and July so that the days are warm and the evening temperatures drop substantially when a chimney effect is created and the cool air floods through the vineyards from closely located Vera Canyon. Distinctively unique Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardon-nay are crafted from the fruit grown on the property. The ranch and vineyards are owned by Raleigh Enterprises, of which Mr. George I. Rosenthal is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

A new viticultural area, named Malibu-Newton Canyon, has been established consisting of approximately 850 acres within Newton Canyon, and encompassing all of the Rosenthal-The Malibu Estate vine-yards. Grape varietals grown comprise approximately 14 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon (planted first in 1987, with additional acreage planted in 1988 and 1989), and small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Three acres of Chardon-nay were planted in 1991 with the first vintage in 1994. Case production is extremely limited from this boutique winery.

Corky Roche, President of Roche Vineyard Consulting, manages the vineyards, using drip irrigation on trellised and thinned vines for low yields and maximum quality.

The grapes are handpicked at harvest, loaded in small bins, and crushed on the property. The juice is chilled, then immediately shipped to vintner Christian Roguenant at the Malibu Hills Winery, located at Orcutt Road Cellars in San Luis Obispo. The grapes are harvested, crushed, and processed in the same day. Aging in the finest French oak barrels available brings out the best qualities in the wines.

Plans are presently on the drawing board for Rosenthal to produce and bottle the wine at the estate, creating both a winery and storage cave on the property. The cave will be tunneled into the side of an existing rock formation at the rear of one vineyard.

Printable Page