Sonoma's Old-Vine Vineyards Reveal Secrets of Field Blends

Winemakers uncover the history behind California's traditional mixed-grape wines

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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California's oldest vineyards, some dating back to the late 1800s, often feature field blends - wines made from a mix of grape varietals grown, harvested, and fermented together. These historic winemaking practices fell out of favor after Prohibition, but a handful of Sonoma wineries are keeping the tradition alive by showcasing the unique flavors of these old-vine field blends.

Why it matters

Field blends offer a glimpse into California's winemaking past, when economic and practical constraints led growers to plant a mix of grape varietals together. While most modern wines are blended after fermentation, field blends capture the synergy of co-fermented grapes. As old vineyards are increasingly threatened, preserving these historic field blend sites is important for maintaining the diversity and character of California wine.

The details

Winemaker Jim Rickards of J Rickards Vineyards explains that field blends were once the standard in California, with vineyards planted to a mix of grape varieties that were harvested and fermented together. This allowed smaller, mom-and-pop wineries to maximize the use of their limited fermentation tanks. Grapes like Alicante Bouschet, known for their thick skins and deep color, were commonly used in these old-style "mixed blacks" field blends. While field blends fell out of favor after Prohibition, a handful of Sonoma wineries like Seghesio, Ridge, and Bucklin continue the tradition by showcasing wines from their historic, mixed-varietal vineyards.

  • The earliest vineyards in California were planted by Spanish missionaries in the late 1800s.
  • Field blends were the common winemaking practice in California around the turn of the 20th century.
  • Many old field blend vineyards were ripped up and replanted to more popular grape varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1970s.

The players

Jim Rickards

Winemaker at J Rickards Vineyards and Winery in Geyserville, California, who discussed the history and importance of field blends.

Seghesio

A Sonoma winery that still maintains an old-vine vineyard planted as a field blend, dating back to 1895.

Ridge

A Sonoma winery that produces wines from historic field blend vineyards.

Bucklin

A Sonoma winery that owns the Old Hill Ranch vineyard, which dates back to 1885 and features a field blend.

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What they’re saying

“A field blend is a wine produced from a vineyard where several different varieties of grapes are grown together. Those varieties are comingled throughout the winemaking process. It's the goal to do this.”

— Jim Rickards, Winemaker (nowandzin.com)

“Around turn of century it was common practice to plant field blends. Most older vineyards you see today were planted to field blends originally. A lot of them were ripped up and replanted in a more modern way, with more saleable grapes for the time.”

— Jim Rickards, Winemaker (nowandzin.com)

What’s next

As more old-vine vineyards are threatened, efforts to preserve historic field blend sites and educate consumers about this traditional winemaking style will be important for maintaining the diversity of California's wine regions.

The takeaway

Field blends offer a unique window into California's winemaking past, when economic and practical constraints led growers to plant a mix of grape varietals together. While field blends fell out of favor after Prohibition, a handful of Sonoma wineries are keeping this tradition alive, showcasing the complex flavors that emerge from these historic, mixed-varietal vineyards.