McEvoy Ranch Olive Oil Makers Start Harvesting Wine

Petaluma's McEvoy Ranch is known all over the country for it's olive oil; you might even be privy to its line of home products, soaps, candles and such. But not many Bay Areans know that the McEvoy ranchers have wine in the works. About four years ago, Italy native Dr. Maurizio Castelli started working with manager Samantha Dorsey on the planting of a nine Mediterranean wine varietals: Pinot Noir, Syrah, Montepulciano, Grenache, Viognier, Mourvedre, Alicante Bouschet, Refusco and Barbera. The grapes will finally be ready for harvest this fall, and McEvoy's wine will be ready for sale at the Ferry Building storefront by late 2012. As of today, the plan is to start with two labels, but that could change once the ever-fickle wine-making process gets under way. For now, just add McEvoy to the substaintail list of other wineries that have made the leap to olive oil, and vice versa.

-Eva Frye

[Photo: Courtesy of McEvoy Ranch]