Triassic Pays Homage to Rich Ancient Soil

The Triassic Vineyard wine tasting room rises from the gentle southfacing slope of Cummings Valley like a modern pyramid, beckoning visitors to come in, sit on the deck and enjoy the soft evening breeze and view of the beautiful valley. This part of the valley, in addition to its sunny exposure, consists of volcanically pressured ancient marine sediments that produce exceptional wines. Owners Jim and Sally Arnold, like the Souzas before them, left their former business to launch into an adventure about which they had little knowledge. "When we took this over I didn't have a passion to do this," Arnold said. "It was the result of a lot of prayers." He purchased Triassic from Legacy Vineyard founder Chuck McCollough and has had no regrets. Triassic has three acres planted in Zinfandel, three in Viognier and one in Syrah. Their wines have won five awards from the San Francisco Chronicle competition, taking a double gold with their 2012 Zinfandel. "We don't have an appellation," Arnold said. "We can't say 'Tehachapi Valley' on the label. We need more acres planted. We hope people in the industry see we can grow quality grapes here at a reasonable cost." Triassic has a wine club and hosts live entertainment and speakers. Arnold has added roll-up plastic curtains to the deck for comfort during cold nights and hot days.