G2 Vineyard
G2 Vineyard is an ultra-premium vineyard in the Paso Robles Willow Creek AVA. It is located on 88 acres of hills on Las Tablas Willow Creek Road, a stone’s throw from the renowned James Berry, Booker, and L’Aventure vineyards. Bill and Debbie have re-purposed the property for low yield farming of high quality Rhone varietals. The prior owners (Gravity Hills, VZZ) had farmed for high yields and lower quality grapes. Bill turned to Justin Smith for assistance in selecting this new property. It comes as no surprise that Saxum is the largest customer of G2 Vineyard.
Many of the blocks at G2 are among the steepest slopes being farmed in Paso Robles. Perhaps it is this steepness that lead to her name, G2. Mountain climbers will recognize G2 as the nickname for Gasherbrum II, a neighbor of the more famous K2. Or maybe it is simply the second vineyard owned by the Gibbs'. Regardless, it is not the name, but the grapes that are exciting.
G2’s grapes come from blocks that are custom-farmed "per acre". G2 customers specify everything for farming their grapes, from watering to pruning. Red grape customers are; Saxum, Torrin, Turtle Rock, TOP, Clos Solene (Benom, Pharaoh Moans), RIISE, Emercy, Levo, Jacob Toft, Aaron, Terre et Sang and Fingers Crossed. 2020 Grenache Blanc customers were Turtle Rock, TOP, Levo, and Ranchero. (Grenache Blanc was pulled out in 2021, diseased)
New in 2019, Bill started Gibbs Vineyard Services to manage farming for Heart Stone and G2. His idea was that by directly managing the farming, quality could be improved and costs better controlled. His team consists of Armando Ortiz - Vineyard Manager, and Caitlyn Pierini - Viticulturist. They manage a core labor team for execution of their farming plan. Also new is their focus on the best Organic practices for undervine weed management, leading to a rented flock of 520 sheep in spring and a Clemens Radius undervine tiller.
G2 started with 45 acres of grapes in 2014, including 19 acres of head trained Zinfandel. 7.5 of these acres were grafted from Zinfandel to Grenache & Mourvedre in 2014, 2 acres grafted in 2015, 2017 had 1 acre Zin grafted to Garnacha, and 2018 had 5.5 acres of Zin grafted to Mataro/Mourvedre. 2020 grafted 1.5 acres to Mourvedre. 2024 grafted 1.5 acres to Grenache. Zinfandel is gone. Thirteen new acres were planted to a variety of Rhones in 2015. 2022 saw G2 acquire the neighboring parcel, expanding and planting another 14 acres of Rhones. There are currently 73 acres of grapes at G2.
The G2 hillsides have exposed rocky shale soil, one of the Westside Paso factors allowing the achievement of perfect ripeness without sacrificing acid. Irrigation is minimized, organic and sustainable practices pursued. The goal is not simply great grapes, but grapes that speak with the full character of their Willow Creek terroir.
Many of the blocks at G2 are among the steepest slopes being farmed in Paso Robles. Perhaps it is this steepness that lead to her name, G2. Mountain climbers will recognize G2 as the nickname for Gasherbrum II, a neighbor of the more famous K2. Or maybe it is simply the second vineyard owned by the Gibbs'. Regardless, it is not the name, but the grapes that are exciting.
G2’s grapes come from blocks that are custom-farmed "per acre". G2 customers specify everything for farming their grapes, from watering to pruning. Red grape customers are; Saxum, Torrin, Turtle Rock, TOP, Clos Solene (Benom, Pharaoh Moans), RIISE, Emercy, Levo, Jacob Toft, Aaron, Terre et Sang and Fingers Crossed. 2020 Grenache Blanc customers were Turtle Rock, TOP, Levo, and Ranchero. (Grenache Blanc was pulled out in 2021, diseased)
New in 2019, Bill started Gibbs Vineyard Services to manage farming for Heart Stone and G2. His idea was that by directly managing the farming, quality could be improved and costs better controlled. His team consists of Armando Ortiz - Vineyard Manager, and Caitlyn Pierini - Viticulturist. They manage a core labor team for execution of their farming plan. Also new is their focus on the best Organic practices for undervine weed management, leading to a rented flock of 520 sheep in spring and a Clemens Radius undervine tiller.
G2 started with 45 acres of grapes in 2014, including 19 acres of head trained Zinfandel. 7.5 of these acres were grafted from Zinfandel to Grenache & Mourvedre in 2014, 2 acres grafted in 2015, 2017 had 1 acre Zin grafted to Garnacha, and 2018 had 5.5 acres of Zin grafted to Mataro/Mourvedre. 2020 grafted 1.5 acres to Mourvedre. 2024 grafted 1.5 acres to Grenache. Zinfandel is gone. Thirteen new acres were planted to a variety of Rhones in 2015. 2022 saw G2 acquire the neighboring parcel, expanding and planting another 14 acres of Rhones. There are currently 73 acres of grapes at G2.
The G2 hillsides have exposed rocky shale soil, one of the Westside Paso factors allowing the achievement of perfect ripeness without sacrificing acid. Irrigation is minimized, organic and sustainable practices pursued. The goal is not simply great grapes, but grapes that speak with the full character of their Willow Creek terroir.
