Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards

Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards is a vineyard and winery situated on a 53-acre property in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains above Saratoga, California, near Silicon Valley. The vineyard and winery occupy the same hillside location that has been associated with grape growing and wine production for more than a century. Its setting places the estate within the Santa Cruz Mountains wine region, where elevation and hillside conditions support the production of cool-climate and mountain-influenced wines. The property was previously known as Congress Springs Vineyards. In 1996, the Michael Ballard family acquired the property and renamed it Savannah-Chanel Vineyards after the family's two daughters, Savannah and Chanel. The renamed estate continued to use the long-established vineyard and winery site, linking the newer family identity with an older agricultural and winemaking history. The name subsequently became the subject of a dispute with Chanel, the French cosmetics company. In 1998, Chanel sued the Ballards over the winery's use of the word "Chanel," despite there being no corporate relationship between the winery and the cosmetics company. Rather than pursue a potentially lengthy and expensive court fight, the Ballards changed the name to Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards. The revised name appeared on the winery's wine labels beginning in 1999. Savannah-Chanelle is particularly associated with Pinot noir made from estate-grown and locally sourced grapes. It also produces Zinfandel from the estate's original vines, which were planted in 1910 and are described in the reference material as the oldest surviving Zinfandel vines in California. Other varieties and styles associated with the property include Cabernet Franc from vines planted in 1920, Port, and Chardonnay. The combination of historic vines, an established hillside site, and a portfolio centered on distinctive California varieties forms the core of the vineyard's identity. The brand's significance is primarily regional and historical rather than that of a large international wine corporation. Its story combines Santa Cruz Mountains viticulture, multigenerational family ownership, heritage plantings, and a highly visible name change prompted by trademark litigation. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current corporate parent, a current executive roster, a standalone website, or a detailed present-day distribution footprint; those fields therefore remain limited.

Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards occupies a 53-acre vineyard property in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains above Saratoga, California. The vineyard and winery have remained on the same hillside for more than a century, making continuity of place one of the defining elements of the estate's history. The site is also associated with old plantings, including Zinfandel vines dating from 1910 and Cabernet Franc planted in 1920. Before the current name was adopted, the property was known as Congress Springs Vineyards. In 1996, the Michael Ballard family purchased the vineyard and winery and renamed the operation Savannah-Chanel Vineyards. The name was formed from the first names of the family's two daughters. This change marked the beginning of the estate's modern family identity while retaining its longstanding vineyard location. The naming decision led to legal conflict with Chanel, the cosmetics company. In 1998, Chanel brought a lawsuit concerning the winery's use of "Chanel" in its name. The winery was unrelated to the cosmetics business, but the Ballard family elected not to engage in a prolonged and costly court battle. Instead, it modified the name to Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards. The altered spelling first appeared on wines bearing the new name in 1999. The vineyard's wines are centered on Pinot noir and Zinfandel. Pinot noir is produced from both estate fruit and grapes sourced locally, reflecting the winery's connection to the broader Santa Cruz Mountains growing area. The estate's Zinfandel is made from the original 1910 vines, identified in the available reference material as California's oldest surviving Zinfandel vines. Cabernet Franc, associated with the 1920 planting, is another historically important variety. The portfolio also includes Port, Chardonnay, and other varietal wines. By the 2000s, the vineyard was being covered as part of the Santa Cruz Mountains wine scene, including attention to its Pinot noir. Its public identity therefore rests on three connected features: a long-established hillside site, unusually old grapevine material, and the family-driven rebranding that followed the Chanel lawsuit. Available sources do not provide enough information to document later ownership changes, a current management team, production volumes, revenue, or a confirmed present-day operating status.

1. 1999Savannah-Chanelle name appears on labels

   The revised Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards name first appeared on the winery's wine labels.

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2. 1998Chanel name dispute

   Chanel sued the winery over its use of the word "Chanel" in the vineyard's name. The Ballards chose to change the name rather than pursue a lengthy legal dispute.

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3. 1996Ballard family renames the vineyard

   After purchasing Congress Springs Vineyards, the Michael Ballard family renamed the property Savannah-Chanel Vineyards after two daughters.

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4. 1920Cabernet Franc planted

   Cabernet Franc vines were planted on the estate, adding another historically significant variety to the property.

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5. 1910Estate Zinfandel vines planted

   The original Zinfandel vines on the property were planted. They are described as the oldest surviving Zinfandel vines in California.

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A historic Santa Cruz Mountains vineyard and winery emphasizing estate heritage, old-vine Zinfandel, Pinot noir, and other traditionally styled California wines.

• Pinot noirWine

  Pinot noir is the vineyard's best-known wine category. The winery produces it from both grapes grown on the estate and fruit sourced from nearby vineyards, connecting the brand to the wider Santa Cruz Mountains growing region while retaining an estate-wine component.

• ZinfandelWine

  The Zinfandel wines are made from the property's original vines planted in 1910. These plantings are identified as the oldest surviving Zinfandel vines in California, giving the category an unusually strong heritage role within the vineyard's portfolio.

• Cabernet FrancWine

  Cabernet Franc is produced from estate vines planted in 1920. The variety is part of the property's historic plant material and broadens the range beyond the Pinot noir and Zinfandel wines most closely associated with the vineyard.

• PortFortified wine

  Port is among the additional wine styles associated with Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards. The available references identify it as part of the estate's production but do not provide details about its blend, release schedule, or current availability.

• ChardonnayWine

  Chardonnay is one of the other varietal wines produced by the vineyard. Public reference material confirms its association with the winery but does not specify the particular vineyard sources, winemaking approach, or current product range.

• 1998Change the vineyard name in response to Chanel lawsuitStrategy

  Chanel challenged the winery's use of the word "Chanel" in its name. The two businesses were unrelated, but the Ballard family faced the prospect of a lengthy and expensive court case.

  What changed. The winery changed Savannah-Chanel Vineyards to Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards, adding an extra letter to distinguish the name.

  Aftermath. The revised name began appearing on wine labels in 1999 and became the vineyard's established name.

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• 2007Belly up to the Barn: Santa Cruz Pinots star at Savannah-Chanelle

  A San Francisco Chronicle feature highlighted Savannah-Chanelle in connection with Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot noir.

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• 2000Vineyard changes name to avoid suit

  A Saratoga News report described the name change adopted by the Ballard family after Chanel sued over the winery's use of the word "Chanel." The revised Savannah-Chanelle name had already appeared on wines from 1999.

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1. Savannah–Chanelle Vineyards
2. Belly up to the Barn: Santa Cruz Pinots star at Savannah-Chanelle