Ashton Vineyards

Ashton Vineyard Established in 1970, Ashton Vineyard has been the source of fine wine grapes at the heart of some of California's most notable wines. We are proud to introduce our own wines made exclusively of grapes from our estate at the foot of Sonoma Mountain in Glen Ellen in the Valley of the Moon. We grow and make two varieties: Pinot Noir and Syrah. The Vineyard We started our vineyard with Pinot Noir some 40 years ago. We spent two years researching our site which faces east, providing the vineyard early morning sun. The sun leaves the vineyard earlier in the day than if we were on the other side of the Valley, which gets the late afternoon sun. Pinot Noir, one of the earliest ripening red wine grapes, benefits from our Eastern exposure which provides slow ripening with extra "hang time." The vineyard contains 7 clones of Pinot Noir which add to its depth and complexity. The style of Syrah we love is like that of the Hermitage region of the northern Rhone area of France. Our choice of Syrah for the east-facing slopes on the southern section of the property was based on the cooler climates of the Hermitage region. Our Syrah also benefits from extended hang time and cooler late afternoons. Our vines are sustainably grown, free of chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides The Wines Ashton Vineyard Pinot Noir is a rich, full flavored yet elegant wine that pairs beautifully with lamb, grilled sea bass, seared ahi tuna and, as we discovered with our friend, actor Daniel Benzali, French Vietnamese food. Ashton Vineyard Syrah is a handcrafted artisan wine. The grapes were picked by hand, hand sorted and barrel aged for 36 months. The wine is deep, succulent and concentrated with richly layered fruit flavors, abundant mid-palate sensations and a lingering taste.