C.G.Di Arie

In 2000, Chaim and Elisheva purchased a 209-acre parcel of uncultivated land between the south and middle forks of the Cosumnes River in the Shenandoah Valley of the Sierra Foothills. Located at 1,700 feet, with excellent sandy loam soil, warm days, cool temperate nights, and strong winds to protect the grapes from mildew, Chaim knew that he could plant a vineyard on the property that would one day yield superior estate zinfandel and syrah.

As vineyard cultivation began, Chaim and Elisheva worked together co-designing their cutting-edge 12,000 square foot winemaking facility. Using the natural slope of the terrain, the winery is built on two plateaus to facilitate the gravity flow that is a part of Chaim’s delicate approach to winemaking. Featuring two art galleries that display a small representation of the couple’s world-class collection of California art, the winery at C.G. Di Arie is now an elegant home for Chaim and Elisheva to pursue their passions. With 20 acres already planted and plans to cultivate 50 more over the next five years, the Gur-Ariehs have crafted a promising vineyard that is already producing great fruit.

Planted at an elevation of 1,700 feet with zinfandel, syrah, petit sirah, primitivo, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc, one of the main goals of the vineyard is to develop consistency of fruit from vine to vine. With subtle variations from red, granitic rocky loam, to sandy loam, the soil at C. G. Di Arie is ideal, offering good root penetration to the vines.