Sharp Mountain Vineyards operates on the simple but essential principle that to produce the finest wine, you must begin with the finest fruit. This quest for perfection requires personal attention to every detail – from employing tried-and-true “winegrowing” practices to personally harvesting the best grapes and handcrafting the wines.At 1,600 feet, Sharp Mountain Vineyards is ideally suited to its purpose. The rocky, alluvial soil is perfect for growing these balanced vines, which thrive on 5 acres of well-drained slopes. The west-facing site provides even, north-to-south exposure to nourishing sunlight, and wider spacing of the plants maximizes air circulation. The Rathgebs dry farm the vineyard and anually thin shoots & clusters, pull leaves, and hedge the rows to produce the highest quality grapes. Although these practices lower yield, they ultimately produce more intense and complex wines.