These 10^1/2 acres were first  planted to Riesling, a testament to the popularity of somewhat sweeter white wines in that era.  A decade later the Riesling was removed and replanted with Wente clone Chardonnay. Two acres of those vines remain, and have become some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in Napa Valley.

Greg Melanson purchased a total of 42 acres in 1988, and Melanson Vineyard was born.  At the time, nearly all of Pritchard Hill’s wineries were pulling out their Chenin Blanc, Gamay, Riesling and Chardonnay vines to focus on Cabernet Sauvignon.

Greg Melanson and vineyard manager John Arns chose to plant 7^1/2 of the acres to Cabernet Sauvignon, a varietal beautifully suited to the rugged Sobrante Loam soil and southern exposure of Pritchard Hill. They also chose to keep two full acres of the unique old-vine Chardonnay, which was simply too high quality to abandon entirely.  Completing the transition was three-quarter of an acre of new Syrah vines.