1.   0 - 500 ft
  2.   500 - 1,000 ft
  3.   1,000 - 1,500 ft
  4.   1,500 - 2,000 ft
  5.   2,000 - 2,500 ft
  6.   2,500 - 3,000 ft
  1.   Chardonnay
  2.   Sauvignon Blanc/Sauvignon Musqué
  3.   Cabernet Sauvignon
  4.   Merlot
  1.   Atwell clay loam
  2.   Boomer loam
  3.   Cibo clay
  4.   Comptche gravelly loam
  5.   Empire loam
  6.   Forward gravelly loam
  7.   Henneke gravelly loam
  8.   Hugo very gravelly loam
  9.   Hugo-Laughlin complex
  10.   Laughlin loam
  11.   Montara cobble clay loam
  12.   Raynor clay
  13.   Sobrante loam
  14.   Spreckles loam
  15.   Stonyford gravelly loam
  16.   Stonyford-Boomer complex
  17.   Suther loam
  18.   Suther-Laughlin loams
  19.   Yorkville clay loam
  20.   Yorkville-Laughlin complex
  21.   Yorkville-Suther complex
  1. Practices Made Perfect: Sustainability Matters

    Since 2009, all the Stonestreet vineyards have been certified as sustainable under the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance's Certified California Sustainable Winegrower (CCSW) program.

    Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing
  2.   Animal Corridors

Wines at the Table

Mountain wines are relatively rare, and behave very differently than wines from other topographies—flatlanders in particular. The wines tend to be fairly extracted and rich, yet one also finds plenty of acidity and a structural element that can best be described as firmly structured, and tannic in youth.

Hence, the wines need to be considered differently at the table than other wines--decanting, glassware and food pairing are all part of this equation.

Chardonnay

As grape varieties go, Chardonnay is a classic partner for the table—but because there are so many styles to be found one needs to know in advance what's in the bottle... Read More »

Cabernet Sauvignon

In terms of physical stature, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most powerful red wine grapes in the world, possessing profound color, richness, flavor and structure... Read More »

Wines at the Table

Chardonnay

As grape varieties go, Chardonnay is a classic partner for the table—but because there are so many styles to be found (fruit-forward, oak-driven or lean and crisp for example) one needs to know in advance what's in the bottle.

Mountain Chardonnay is extracted and has firm acidity and structure. When you put all those elements together, they form a white that's powerful enough for fatty cuts of meat, strong cheeses and rich sauces. In fact, mountain grown Chardonnay behaves a little bit more like a red wine than most whites. So here at Stonestreet, we approach our Chardonnays with a hybrid point of view at the table.

Decanting and Glassware

Chardonnay Wine Glass

Because of their formidable structural elements, Stonestreet Chardonnays tend to be closed when first opened, slowly emerging from the glass with fruit, smoke and stony qualities. The best glass for these wines has an oval bowl, with plenty of head space to allow the wine to breathe.

We've also been known to decant the Chardonnays in their youth, which opens up the texture and allows the aromatics to evolve more quickly than a glass would.

Temperature

Stonestreet Chardonnays are best served between 55° and 60° F—remember that these are powerful wines, and will not exhibit their most complex characteristics if served too cold.

Mountain Chardonnay & Food

  • Ocean: Lobster, crab, mussels, salmon, shrimp, skate—particularly seafood that has enough fat and richness to handle the power in the wines.
  • Field: Roast duck, squab, quail, pork of all kinds, veal, sweetbreads.
  • Garden: Corn or polenta, fennel bulb, almonds, white beans, mushrooms, tarragon.
  • Cheeses: Hard-aged and wash-rind cheeses, gouda, Spanish sheep milk cheeses.
  • Sauces: Beurre blanc, cream sauces, Alfredo, mustard.

Wines at the Table

Cabernet Sauvignon

Take all of Cabernet's formidable structure and intensity and grow it 1,500 feet above the valley floor, and what one finds is quite simply—more of everything. Stonestreet Cabernet Sauvignon (and the wines blended with it, such as Merlot and Cabernet Franc) is, above all else, powerful, but it also possesses considerable acidity, a very strong mineral element from the rocky soils and distinctive herbal elements from the flora found on the mountain.

Hence, it's no surprise that Stonestreet Cabernets take time to open, to reveal themselves in the decanter and the glass. It's essential to know how to deal with mountain tannins, practices that encourage texture and fleshiness to emerge from behind the sheer muscle of the wines.

Decanting and Glassware

Chardonnay Wine Glass

Young Stonestreet red wines are often best decanted—the single vineyard Cabernets in particular. Decanting allows the aromas to open up and the tannins to soften as the wine is exposed to oxygen in the vessel.

Another option is to use a tool such as a Vinturi to aerate the wine. See the Vinturi here: http://www.vinturi.com/

The best glass for mountain Cabernet Sauvignon has a large oval bowl, with plenty of space to allow for swirling and maximum aeration.

Temperature

Stonestreet Cabernets are best served between 55° and 60° F—serving them at a cooler temperature and allowing them to slowly warm and open up in the decanter or glass is best.

Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon & Food

  • Field: Red meat of all kinds, such as lamb, beef and venison. The key is to select a cut with plenty of fat to offset the tannins in these mountain wines.
  • Garden: Caramelized red onions, red chard, black beans and lentils, dried cherries, black pepper, cumin, lavender, rosemary, bay.
  • Cheeses: Hard-aged cow such as Parmesan and Pecorino, Spanish sheep, Farmhouse cheddars, aged gouda style cheeses.
Soil Wildlife Wildlife Legacy

Soar Through the Vineyard

Exploring a 5,100 acre, 2,800 foot high vineyard by foot is no easy task. Like a hawk in flight, take a virtual tour of Stonestreet Estate. By clicking on any of the tabs above, you'll be able to view soils, elevations, climate, individual wine blocks and more. Prepare to climb!

Wines

Click on any of the blocks above to learn more about the elevations, clones, soils and other elements that make up the Stonestreet wines.

Legacy Red Blend

Legacy is an amalgam, blended from the high elevation Stonestreet Estate, a gravel bench in Alexander Valley and an old riverbed on the northern border of Chalk Hill. The result is seamless—both engaging and serious, much like our winemaker Graham himself.

A Rich Medley of Soils

With more soil types than all of France combined, Sonoma County is one of the most geologically diverse growing regions in the world. Stonestreet Estate Vineyards has 25 different soil types, comprised primarily of volcanic material and uplifted riverbed from years of tectonic activity. This range contributes a great deal of complexity to the many mesoclimates found on the mountain.

Fog Plays a Defining Role

The fogline on Stonestreet Estate Vineyards plays a defining role, ending at approximately 1,800 feet. Everything above this point sees continuous sunshine while all the sites situated below are bathed in cool maritime air for several hours of each day. As a result, one finds immense flavor and structural differences from each climate locale.

Altitude Matters

The impact of elevation cannot be overstated in mountain vineyards. Closer proximity to the sun, temperature inversion and meager soils are but a few of the elements unique to high altitude sites. Elevations on Stonestreet Estate Vineyards range from 400 to 2,400 feet, conferring an impressive array of textural and structural elements to the wines.

A Respectful Cohabitation

Of the 5,100 acres of land on Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, only 900 are planted to grapes; the remaining acreage retains its natural biodiversity. Animal corridors allow deer, cougars and foxes to inhabit the vineyard and travel freely for water, food and shelter.

Stonestreet Wines at the Table

Mountain-grown wines are unique creatures in the world of wine; given the right treatment at the table, they’ll provide serious pleasure.