Thomas Fogarty
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Country of Origin: USA
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains
People: Tom Fogarty, Owner | Nathan Kandler, Winemaker
Viticulture: Practicing Organic
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In 1976 Dr. Thomas Fogarty, a practicing heart surgeon and noted inventor of medical devices, decided that he would dedicate his approximately 350 acres in the north end of the Santa Cruz Mountains to open space. For inclusion in the Williamson Act, the property would need an active agricultural purpose. The idea appealed to Dr. Fogarty, but he was undecided as to what types of crops he would cultivate. Initially, Dr Fogarty considered planting the entire property to Kiwi fruit, but thankfully he reconsidered after a few fellow Stanford physicians introduced him to the wines of Burgundy and local producers David Bruce, Mount Eden and Ridge.
Once he had made the decision to plant the land to the cool-weather varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a mutual acquaintance introduced Dr. Fogarty to Michael Martella, a fourth generation grape grower in California. Michael became the first employee of Thomas Fogarty Winery and directed the winery for almost thirty years, developing the vineyards and the wine.
In 1977 Martella and Fogarty began removing brush to plant the first two vineyards on the property. Over the next four years, with the occasional advice and guidance of Santa Cruz Mountain pioneers Jeffrey Patterson, Jim and Bob Varner and Jim Beauregard, the six “core” vineyards of the Fogarty Estate were planted. The first vintage from the estate vineyards was in 1986.
The almost thirty acres under vine are today farmed organically with minimal (if any) irrigation, and the property remains in the Williamson Act, which means that the entire estate of 350 acres is preserved as heritage oak and fir forest. Viticulture and viniculture practices are those that ensure maximum site expression: low intervention in the vineyard as well as the winery. There are three estate Pinot Noir vineyards at about 2,000 feet elevation totaling 10 acres: Windy Hill (2 acres), Razorback (2 acres) and Rapley Trail (6 acres). The Langley Hill Vineyard is all Chardonnay. Damiana, Portola Springs and Albutom are also Chardonnay vineyards. The winery also owns the 100-acre Gist Ranch located 17 miles south of the estate vineyards. It is on another ridge at 2,300 feet elevation and, being more inland than the estate vineyard, is warmer. 14 acres are planted to several varieties but not Pinot Noir. Most of the original vines remain, deeply rooted in the soils composed of marine shale and sandstone.
Tom Fogarty Jr.
Dr. Fogarty’s son Tom Jr. was ten years old when the first vines were planted at Thomas Fogarty. He has seen the winery grow from its inception. He is currently the winery’s managing principal. After completing the wine marketing program at Sonoma State University, he earned a degree in business management. Besides his experience in the wine industry, Tom Jr. has worked in the automotive sector doing brand development for manufacturers including Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati and Lamborghini.
Media Links
Hawk Wakawaka: Spending Time with Thomas Fogarty Vineyards
PinotFile: Thomas Fogarty Winery