Our story begins with place...

The Secret River Wine™ vineyards are located in the Lodi AVA, in the sub-AVA of the Mokelumne River. Our 40 acres are planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon, and our vines are over 20 years old. Family-owned estates of this small size are becoming less common, and we are proud to be carrying on the tradition of careful farming and hands-on attention to the grapes and to our wines. This historic location has been home to vineyards for generations, and we’re lucky to learn from and be a part of such a deep agricultural community within the AVA and in Lodi. Discover the story behind our name and the rich history of the Mokelumne River that inspires every bottle at Secret River Winery.

The distinguishing characteristic of our Mokelumne River sub-AVA is the soils: multiple feet of alluvial soil brought down from the glacial runoff of the Sierras. This deep sandy loam not only provides us nutrient-rich soils, but also allows for excellent drainage and promotes good vine health. The generous California sunshine brings ripeness to the vines, but we are also graced with cooling breezes from the Bay area to prevent over-ripening the grapes.