In 1989, after 3 long years of searching, Dale and Marla Bleecher responded to a "For sale by owner" ad for a 135-acre Calistoga cattle ranch on Old Lawley Toll Road. Nestled at the base of Mt. St. Helena with the Palisades ringing the canyon, the site was awe-inspiring. The moment they drove through the driveway, they knew it was the place to raise both their kids and their grapes. Rich in California history, Jericho Canyon's wild terrain was first reigned in by a member of the 110th New York Civil War infantry when he came west to plant fruit orchards and a small vineyard. With the original barn and hundred year old cottage still in use today, in many ways Jericho Canyon is unchanged since the days of John Lawley collecting a toll from each horse drawn wagon. Sustainably farmed, the vineyards planted in 1989 have only served to make the land more beautiful. Preserving nearly 70% of the ranch as Rich in California history, Jericho Canyon's wild terrain was first reigned in by a member of the 110th New York Civil War infantry when he came west to plant fruit orchards and a small, pre-prohibition vineyard. With the original barn and cottage still in use today, in many ways Jericho Canyon is unchanged since the days when John Lawley ruled the Old Toll Road, collecting a twenty five cent toll from each horse drawn wagon. Leaving all of the oak trees where they stood, the Bleechers planted atop what had been cattle graze land. The vineyards planted in 1989 have only served to make the land more beautiful. Preserving roughly 70% of the ranch as wildlife habitat, the Bleechers followed the land's contours planting roughly 40 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc. Noted winemaker David Ramey discovered the quality of Jericho Canyon grapes in the late 1990s. Over the course of the next eight years, he launched both Rudd Estate and Ramey Wine Cellars with Jericho Canyon Vineyard designated wines as their flagship red wines. 2006 was an historic year for the Bleecher family and Jericho Canyon Vineyard; with the completion of their simply designed redwood winery and caves, it was the first year that the family was able to take their grapes directly into their winery and guide the grapes from vine to bottle under their own roof. In 2011, second-generation vintner, Nicholas Bleecher, returned to Jericho Canyon after gaining winemaking experience both in the classroom and abroad. These days, the family lives on site, running all day to day operations and working together to produce limited production, terroir driven wines.