Westerhold Family Vineyards
About
We are a small winery dedicated to the production of estate grown Syrah and Pinot Noir.
Location Description
Located in the Bennett Valley AVA of Sonoma County.
Features
- Producing high quality wines.
Additional Information
- Meeting / Conference Facilities:
- Caves:
- Wedding Facilities:
- Picnic Facilities:
- Dog Friendly:
- Winery Tours:
- Wine Tasting:
- Art or Architecture:
- Organic / Biodynamic:
- Awards:
- Wine Club:
- Lodging / Bed & Breakfast:
Winemaker
Noted wine critic, Robert Parker has said of our winemaker, Russell Bevan, "I can't recommend this up-and-coming producer's wines highly enough" (Wine Advocate #192, December 2010), and the San Francisco Chronicle called him a "rock star winemaker". Russell is truly one of the best in the business today and we are proud to call him our winemaker, neighbor, and dear friend.
Our business relationship started in 2006 when Russell chose our vineyard to make a vineyard designate Syrah for his own Bevan Cellars label. Named "Hannah's Cuvee" Syrah - for our daughter, Hannah - this spectacular wine was sold out almost immediately. This was affirmation for us that we should have Russell make wine for our Westerhold Family Vineyards label starting with the 2007 vintage, and the beginning of our incredible journey from grower to vintner.
Our business relationship started in 2006 when Russell chose our vineyard to make a vineyard designate Syrah for his own Bevan Cellars label. Named "Hannah's Cuvee" Syrah - for our daughter, Hannah - this spectacular wine was sold out almost immediately. This was affirmation for us that we should have Russell make wine for our Westerhold Family Vineyards label starting with the 2007 vintage, and the beginning of our incredible journey from grower to vintner.
History
Our family moved from Los Angeles to Sonoma County in 2006 with the dream of farming our own vineyard and handcrafting wine from our grapes. We found the perfect property in Bennett Valley where where we could put down roots and raise our children. There was a small Syrah vineyard planted on the property, and in 2008 we planted almost 3 acres Pinot Noir.
Shortly after moving in, we were fortunate to meet one of our neighbors, then up-and-coming winemaker Russell Bevan. Russell has been our friend and has made our wine since our inaugural 2007 Syrah vintage, crafting wines which come exclusively from grapes grown in our home vineyard. Our goal is to craft Syrah and Pinot Noir which showcase the unique flavor intensity that our estate site gives us, while also respecting and reflecting the differences each vintage brings to us.
Shortly after moving in, we were fortunate to meet one of our neighbors, then up-and-coming winemaker Russell Bevan. Russell has been our friend and has made our wine since our inaugural 2007 Syrah vintage, crafting wines which come exclusively from grapes grown in our home vineyard. Our goal is to craft Syrah and Pinot Noir which showcase the unique flavor intensity that our estate site gives us, while also respecting and reflecting the differences each vintage brings to us.
Estate Vineyards / AVA
We believe that great wine always starts in the vineyard, and that we are extremely proud to have a very special one in the Bennett Valley AVA of Sonoma County. Our vineyard is planted exclusively to the
Alban
Pinot Noir: 115, 667, 777 and Pommard. We chose Hambrecht Vineyard Management to farm our vineyard because of their focus on advancing technologies, respect for the environment, and true understanding of wine quality.
Our Westerhold estate vineyard benefits from the early morning sunlight as the fog blows away and the sun peeks over the Mayacamas Mountains. It is cooled late in the day by the breezes which flow through the Crane Canyon wind gap. Nestled between three mountain peaks (Bennett, Taylor, and Sonoma Mountains) in Sonoma County, Bennett Valley sits within the Sonoma Valley AVA and overlaps a portion of both the Sonoma Mountain and Sonoma Coast AVAs. The well-drained mountain benchland soils combine with early morning fog and cool marine breezes to create ideal conditions for growing exceptional cool-climate varieties like Syrah and Pinot Noir.
Alban
Pinot Noir: 115, 667, 777 and Pommard. We chose Hambrecht Vineyard Management to farm our vineyard because of their focus on advancing technologies, respect for the environment, and true understanding of wine quality.
Our Westerhold estate vineyard benefits from the early morning sunlight as the fog blows away and the sun peeks over the Mayacamas Mountains. It is cooled late in the day by the breezes which flow through the Crane Canyon wind gap. Nestled between three mountain peaks (Bennett, Taylor, and Sonoma Mountains) in Sonoma County, Bennett Valley sits within the Sonoma Valley AVA and overlaps a portion of both the Sonoma Mountain and Sonoma Coast AVAs. The well-drained mountain benchland soils combine with early morning fog and cool marine breezes to create ideal conditions for growing exceptional cool-climate varieties like Syrah and Pinot Noir.
